Campaign financeElection 2024ElectionsGeneral NewsU.S. NewsWest Virginia Former Democratic House Leader in West Virginia Joins GOP, Announces Candidacy for Secretary of State by Michael Nguyen October 13, 2023 written by Michael Nguyen October 13, 2023 8 comments Bookmark 36 A previous leader of the Democratic Party in the West Virginia House of Delegates has revealed plans to contest the secretary of state position in the upcoming election as a member of the Republican Party. Doug Skaff has officially registered his pre-candidacy for the role this past Thursday. In a statement made available on his campaign’s online platform, Skaff articulated his mission: “In this rapidly evolving global landscape, I aim to apply an in-depth comprehension of the legal system, exhibit unwavering leadership skills, and maintain a commitment to principles of fairness, transparency, and integrity across all functionalities of the office.” The procedure of filing pre-candidacy documentation enables the initiation of campaign fundraising and mandates the submission of financial reports related to the campaign. A candidate’s formal entry into the race is only confirmed after they have submitted a distinct certificate of announcement along with the requisite filing fee. The official filing window for the 2024 electoral cycle opens in January. Skaff vacated his legislative seat representing Kanawha County in the previous month, following his resignation as the Democratic leader of the chamber in August. Elgine McArdle, the Chairwoman of the West Virginia Republican Party, expressed reservations regarding Skaff’s party switch. “While the West Virginia Republican Party acknowledges the potential for varying philosophies within its ranks, we also caution Republican voters to discern between minor ‘philosophical nuances’ and fundamental ‘ideological discrepancies.’ Given Skaff’s well-documented liberal voting history in the House, this upcoming primary election presents one such occasion,” said McArdle in an official statement. Skaff had served in the House of Delegates between 2009 and 2014, and was re-elected in 2018. He also holds the position of President at HD Media, the parent company for the Charleston Gazette-Mail among other state publications. Mike Pushkin, the Chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, offered his own perspective on Skaff’s political move. “Doug has evidently been captivated by the allure of securing a statewide position for some time now. However, his actual legislative record could potentially give Republican primary voters cause for concern. Notwithstanding, we extend our best wishes for his future endeavors,” stated Pushkin. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about West Virginia Secretary of StateWho is Doug Skaff?What position is Doug Skaff running for?When did Doug Skaff switch political parties?What steps has Doug Skaff taken to formalize his candidacy?What are the core principles that Doug Skaff aims to uphold?What is the official filing period for the 2024 election?What is the stance of the West Virginia Republican Party on Doug Skaff’s switch?How have Democratic Party officials responded to Doug Skaff’s switch?More about West Virginia Secretary of State Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about West Virginia Secretary of State Who is Doug Skaff? Doug Skaff is a political figure who has previously served as a leader of the Democratic Party in the West Virginia House of Delegates. He has served in the House from 2009 to 2014 and was re-elected in 2018. He is also the President of HD Media, which owns several state newspapers including the Charleston Gazette-Mail. What position is Doug Skaff running for? Doug Skaff has announced his candidacy for the position of Secretary of State in West Virginia as a member of the Republican Party. When did Doug Skaff switch political parties? Doug Skaff switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party recently, before announcing his pre-candidacy for Secretary of State. What steps has Doug Skaff taken to formalize his candidacy? Doug Skaff has registered as a pre-candidate, a process that allows him to start fundraising for his campaign and mandates that he file financial reports related to his campaign activities. What are the core principles that Doug Skaff aims to uphold? In a statement on his campaign’s online platform, Doug Skaff emphasized his commitment to principles of fairness, transparency, and integrity in all functionalities of the office of Secretary of State. What is the official filing period for the 2024 election? The official filing period for the 2024 electoral cycle is set to open in January. What is the stance of the West Virginia Republican Party on Doug Skaff’s switch? Elgine McArdle, the Chairwoman of the West Virginia Republican Party, expressed reservations regarding Skaff’s change of party affiliation, cautioning voters to discern between minor philosophical nuances and fundamental ideological discrepancies. How have Democratic Party officials responded to Doug Skaff’s switch? Mike Pushkin, the Chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, stated that while Doug Skaff has long been interested in a statewide position, his actual legislative record could potentially give Republican primary voters cause for concern. More about West Virginia Secretary of State Doug Skaff’s Campaign Website Official Statement from the West Virginia Republican Party West Virginia House of Delegates HD Media Company Profile West Virginia Democratic Party Official Statement West Virginia 2024 Election Guidelines Charleston Gazette-Mail Coverage of Doug Skaff’s Party Switch You Might Be Interested In Surgeons in Ukraine Witness Influx of Wounded Soldiers Since Counteroffensive Began Responses to the Passing of Rosalynn Carter, Renowned Former First Lady and Humanitarian Advocate Biden will sign an order seeking to protect birth control access a year after Roe was overturned No Biden on the New Hampshire Presidential Primary Ballot, Featuring 24 Republicans and 21 Democrats Tropical Storm Idalia descends on North Carolina after pounding Florida, Georgia and South Carolina William Friedkin, Oscar-winning director of ‘The Exorcist’ and The French Connection,’ dead at 87 Campaign financeDoug SkaffElection 2024electionsGeneral Newsparty switchpre-candidacySecretary of StateWest VirginiaWest Virginia politics Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Michael Nguyen Follow Author Michael Nguyen is a sports journalist who covers the latest news and developments in the world of sports. He has a particular interest in football and basketball, and he enjoys analyzing game strategies and player performance. previous post Steve Scalise Abandons Campaign for House Speaker After Failing to Secure Necessary Support next post Pence Opts for State-Run Primary Over Nevada Republican Caucus, Forgoing Delegate Opportunity You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... December 28, 2023 8 comments JohnDoe October 13, 2023 - 2:26 am Wow, talk about a political flip-flop. Skaff’s move is definitely gonna raise some eyebrows, not just in his new party but also among Dems. What’s he really after? Reply PoliticalAnalyst October 13, 2023 - 3:19 am Skaff’s commitment to “fairness, transparency, and integrity” sounds great on paper. But how does that translate in a party switch? Makes ya wonder… Reply TimZ October 13, 2023 - 7:31 am Mike Pushkin seems like he’s throwing a bit of shade there. It’s obvious the Dems are gonna question this move a lot. Reply EmilyT October 13, 2023 - 1:25 pm Does anybody know what his voting record was like when he was a Dem? That’s gonna be the real telltale sign here. Reply CryptoGeek October 13, 2023 - 2:04 pm Skaff also being in media, specifically president of HD Media, adds another layer to this. Media and politics, always a complex relationship. Reply Mike_87 October 13, 2023 - 8:37 pm So Doug’s now a Republican, huh? This will be an interesting primary for sure. But hey, people change, parties change, let’s see what happens. Reply SandraW October 13, 2023 - 8:53 pm i’m really interested to see how this plays out in the primaries. If he was a Dem leader, can he truly align with Rep values? Reply KarenP October 13, 2023 - 11:46 pm Elgine McArdle’s statement is pretty much a caution flag, isn’t it? She’s basically saying “we’ll see if you’re one of us.” Reply Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Δ
