I’m Withdrawing From Consideration for Senate President

November 22, 2022

Back in early September, I announced that I want to be the President of the West Virginia State Senate.  I still do.  In my September 8^th press release, I gave these reasons for running for that position: “I believe that the people of our state expect more from a super majority Republican led legislature and so do I. We are now at an inflection point where the momentum is stalling. We are squandering our opportunities.  In the recent special session we literally got nothing done. No tax relief. No right to life legislation. No nothing.”

Those reasons still hold.  I believed that by running for Senate President, I could provide an alternative that could act as catalyst to provide the unity needed to get things done. I still do.  At the time of my announcement to run, I believed that I had the votes needed to win.  Today, November 22^nd, I no longer believe that to be true. 

They say that that all things happen in their time.  It is clear to me that at this point in time, it would be in the best interest of all concerned that I withdraw from running for President of the West Virginia State Senate. 

I will never stop fighting for the people of the 16^th Senatorial District, just as I have done every day since being elected. I will never stop fighting for what I believe is right, and what will make West Virginia a better place for all of its citizens. Those guiding principles will never change, regardless of who Senate leadership may be.

I withdraw from this race with strongly conflicted feelings.  I want to thank my supporters for their good will and encouragement.  Let’s keep a close eye on how things proceed from here and pray for God’s will that we resolve our current issues and do what is best for the people of West Virginia.