Tag: GOP

Top Federal Prosecutor Tapped for Southern West Virginia

A former West Virginia Republican Party chairman has been selected to become the top federal prosecutor in the southern half of the state.

President Donald Trump nominated Mike Stuart to be U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Republican U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito says she recommended Stuart for the position. She says Stuart “has shown great leadership, professionalism, and character throughout his career.”

If confirmed, Stuart would take over from Carol Casto, who was appointed after former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin resigned in December 2015 to run for governor, a bid which he lost.

Stuart is an attorney from Charleston who served as state GOP chairman from 2010 to 2012. He served as a co-chairman of Trump’s West Virginia presidential campaign team.

Sanders Urges Capito to Oppose GOP Health Plan

Sen. Bernie Sanders has ventured into a stronghold for President Donald Trump to urge West Virginia’s Republican senator to resist efforts to repeal much of Barack Obama’s health care law.

Speaking to hundreds of supporters Sunday in Morgantown, Sanders said if GOP Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s opposes her party’s health care bill, it would “make all of the difference” in derailing the legislation. He urged the West Virginian to resist any deals from Senate Republican leaders, saying no tweaking would “undo the massive damage” the bill would cause.

The existing bill would fail if just three of the 52 Republicans vote no, since all Democrats oppose it. Capito was among at least a dozen Republican senators who recently publicly opposed or expressed qualms about it, forcing a postponement of a vote.

Eastern Panhandle's Influence in Charleston Grows

Eastern Panhandle lawmakers met at an annual Legislative Breakfast Friday to discuss their top priorities for the 2017 Legislative session. Senators and delegates touched on a variety of issues, but what’s clear is the region’s growing influence at the statehouse.

Since the GOP won the majority in both chambers of the state Legislature two years ago, many Eastern Panhandle Republicans have been appointed to influential posts within their respective chambers.

To name just a few, Senator Charlie Trump of Morgan County chairs Senate Judiciary; Delegate Paul Espinosa of Jefferson County chairs House Education, and Delegate Daryl Cowles of Morgan County is the House Majority Leader. Cowles says having Eastern Panhandle representatives in key positions means the regions voice will be heard at the Capitol.

“It’s roles like that, those pivotal roles that make the difference that have our voice heard in Charleston and have issues of Charleston brought back home,” Cowles said.

The Eastern Panhandle is one of the most rapidly growing regions in West Virginia – a state that’s losing population overall. In the past, lawmakers from the area have criticized legislative leaders for ignoring the needs of the growing communities.

GOP Keeps Control of the State House & Senate

Editor’s Note: The previous story reported an incorrect total of seats gained by the West Virginia Republican Party in the state Senate. This story has been updated with correct totals.

Heading into Tuesday night, state Republican Party leaders were confident they could maintain their majorities in both the state House of Delegates and Senate. Their predictions were correct with the GOP’s number increasing in the Senate by four.

Republicans will now hold 22 seats in the Senate with 12 Democrats and in the House, Democrats picked up one additional seat, but Republicans hold a large majority at 63 to 37.

Perhaps the biggest upset for Democrats in the Senate is Republican Ryan Weld’s win over Incumbent, Democrat Jack Yost, who’s held his seat since 2008. Both are from Brooke County.

One of the most heated races in the Senate was likely between incumbent Republican Chris Walters and Democrat Glen Jeffries. Jeffries won Walters’ seat by a couple thousand votes.

Another woman has been elected to the state Senate. Republican Patricia Rucker from the Eastern Panhandle joins Republican Senators Donna Boley and Sue Cline. Cline was appointed to her seat in January, but won her election Tuesday night.

Two major Democratic names in the House of Delegates lost their races this year– Nancy Guthrie of Kanawha County and Democrat Tim Manchin of Marion County. Both Guthrie and Manchin have held their seats in the House for at least ten years.

Fiorina to Headline State GOP Annual Dinner

Former presidential candidate Carly Fiorina will headline the West Virginia Republican Party’s annual dinner.

The state GOP says Fiorina will speak at its Victory Dinner at the Charleston Marriott Town Center on Thursday evening.

Fiorina dropped out of a crowded Republican presidential primary in February. Fellow GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz named Fiorina his vice-presidential running mate briefly before he exited the race in May.

Fiorina also was the 2010 Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in California, but lost to Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer.

Fiorina was hired as CEO of Hewlett-Packard in 1999 and fired six years later after leading a major merger with Compaq and laying off 30,000 workers.

Media CEO's $250k Check to GOP Draws Criticism

A West Virginia media executive is drawing Democratic scrutiny after contributing $250,000 to the Republican Governors Association.Bray Cary, president…

A West Virginia media executive is drawing Democratic scrutiny after contributing $250,000 to the Republican Governors Association.

Bray Cary, president and CEO of West Virginia Media Holdings, made the donation in April.

The Republican association has spent almost $1.1 million to aid GOP state Senate President Bill Cole’s bid for governor against billionaire Democrat Jim Justice. The group is involved in governor’s races nationwide.

Cary hosts the TV show Decision Makers. Cole has made some appearances.

The state Democratic Party wants Cary banned from discussing the governor’s race on Nexstar/West Virginia Media airwaves. Nexstar is acquiring four West Virginia Media television stations.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin encouraged Cary to give $250,000 to the Democratic Governors Association to show balance.

Cary didn’t respond to phone and email messages for comment.

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