WV Democratic Executive Committee reelects Pushkin as chair of state party

Members of the West Virginia Democratic Executive Committee have reelected chairman Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, to serve another four-year term.

The committee voted 43 to 32 Saturday to reelect Pushkin during its organizational meeting in Charleston, West Virginia.

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue serving as chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party,” Pushkin said in a news release Monday. “The work of rebuilding our party belongs to all of us — our county organizations, volunteers, candidates, labor partners, activists and grassroots Democrats across the state who continue to show up, organize, and fight for a better West Virginia.”

Pushkin won against challenger Teresa Toriseva, a Wheeling attorney who was vice chair of the committee. Toriseva said in a press statement last week announcing her plans to run that Pushkin had lost the confidence of the party.

“The public is demanding a reformed and revitalized Democratic Party, and the Party must satisfy those demands urgently,” she and two candidates for committee leadership positions wrote in a June 1 news release. “It is not enough to fill Democratic candidate vacancies; the Democratic  Party and its Chair must work to support those candidates to victory, including raising sufficient funds and ensuring transparency and collaboration. Under the current chair, the Democratic Party has lost seats in the West Virginia House and Senate. The Party must grow and be ready in November to gain seats in the Capitol. “

Toriseva did not return a message seeking comment Monday morning. 

Pushkin congratulated Toriseva on her campaign for chair, saying that she raised important questions and those conversations would be valuable as members work to strengthen the party. 

In addition to Pushkin, the committee also elected Pam Tucker Cline, of Nicholas County, to the position of vice chair, and Wellsburg Mayor Daniel Dudley to second vice chair. 

“Pam Tucker Cline has devoted countless hours to serving her community and strengthening our party,” Pushkin said in the news release. “Anyone who knows Pam knows her enthusiasm, her kindness, and her generosity of spirit. She leads by example, and her commitment to helping others is reflected in everything she does. I am excited to work alongside her and our entire leadership team as we continue building a stronger Democratic Party.”

Pushkin said Dudley demonstrated effective leadership as mayor and has been a “strong advocate for working families and local communities.” 

“His experience as an elected official and his commitment to public service will be a tremendous asset to our party,” he said in the statement.

Pushkin said the party’s attention would now focus on the general election. 

“The first step was recruiting candidates willing to stand up and challenge Republicans at every level of government, and I am proud that Democrats recruited a record number of candidates to put their names on the ballot this year,” Pushkin said. “Now our focus shifts to helping those candidates win in November.”