CHARLESTON – Attorney Dave Higgins has announced he would not seek the Democratic nomination for attorney general.
“I had very favorable support reactions and I’m thankful for that,” Higgins said. “But, I’ve always said it depends on who else files.”
Higgins said Doug Reynolds is a very competent lawyer and is fortunate enough to self-finance his campaign.
“My goal was to be part of the conversation,” Higgins said. “I wanted to make sure the Democratic Party had someone with a shot and Doug has that shot.”
Higgins said it will be better for Reynolds and for the Democratic Party if Reynolds can solely focus on the fall election.
Higgins said there is always a chance he will run again down the line, but that for now he just enjoys staying involved.
“I like working with the Democratic Party and I’ve had a lot of fun working with them,” Higgins said. “I will stay involved behind the scenes.”
Higgins said the purpose of a primary is to select the candidate most likely to prevail in the general election, and that he believes that is Reynolds
“I know that Delegate Reynolds shares my concern that the office of Attorney General is primarily a professional job, not a partisan position used to advance partisan political agendas,” Higgins said in a press release. “I hope the people of West Virginia see it that way as well.”
Higgins said in the press release that he was very gratified with the encouragement and support he received but his main objective has always been to insure that there is a qualified West Virginian as the Democratic nominee who can prevail in November.
Higgins, an attorney at Robinson & McElwee, filed in September, stating that he felt a lawyer needed “a client, not an agenda.”
Reynolds, a Huntington attorney and businessman, is the lone Democrat to file for the race so far. Higgins and Mark Hunt both had indicated they would run for the position, but Hunt opted to file to run for the U.S. House of Representatives instead. Incumbent Patrick Morrisey is the only Republican to file so far for the AG's race.