CHARLESTON – State Auditor J.B. McCuskey has dropped out of the race to be West Virginia’s next governor. Now, he plans to run for state Attorney General.
“I was surrounded by candidates who were going to have significantly more resources than I did,” the two-term auditor told host Hoppy Kercheval on MetroNews’ Talkline statewide radio program July 24. “My experience as the auditor and in the legal community makes a great fit for me to continue to serve in West Virginia as the attorney general”
McCuskey, a Republican, joins two other GOP candidates – state senators Mike Stuart and Ryan Weld – in next spring’s primary.
Both Stuart and Weld issued statements about the new opponent.
“The entry of another moderate in the campaign to be Attorney General is no big deal,” Stuart said. “I was already running against one moderate. Now I’m simply running against two moderates.
“I am the only proven conservative. I am the only America First pro-Trump candidate. I am the only candidate with a proven record of support for the Second Amendment. I am the only candidate with a big record as a former United States Attorney and the only one that prosecuted two members of the State Supreme Court, led the largest drug raids in the history of West Virginia, and removed enough fentanyl from the streets to kill more than 40 million people.”
“If you’ve only seen the inside of a courtroom on television, it’s not the right job for you. … Politics isn’t a sporting event and it shouldn’t be a family business. I was already running against one moderate anti-Trump candidate. Now, I’m running against two. Different day. Same story.”
Stuart also attacked Weld.
“If you’ve blocked campus carry like Weld or voted against Constitutional Carry multiple times like McCuskey, you’re not the right candidate for us and you’re out of step with West Virginia voters,” he said. “Attorney General is a serious job and the principal defender against crazy D.C. liberals who seek to undermine our jobs, our values and our way of life.
“We need a tough conservative- not an Establishment moderate. We cannot afford a moderate as Attorney General.”
In his statement, Weld said he welcomes anyone to the race “because I’m confident that I am the most qualified candidate to be West Virginia’s next attorney general.”
“It’s clear that J.B. McCuskey is scrambling,” Weld said. “After his bid to become governor failed to gain any traction whatsoever, he has abandoned that campaign and jumped into yet another statewide race.
“It is obvious that McCuskey is doing all he can to remain relevant until he can run for governor again in eight years. The office of attorney general is far too critical for it to be used as a stepping stone for someone’s fledgling political aspirations.
“West Virginians deserve an attorney general who wakes up every day with the goal of fighting for them. It is clear that McCuskey wakes up every day with the goal of just trying to figure out how he can become governor.”
Weld noted his military service and years as a state lawmaker.
“I am running for attorney general because I want to protect our citizens from D.C.’s unconstitutional overreach, stand up and defend our rights in the courts of law, and fight to undo the destruction caused by opioid manufacturers,” he said. “I have a profound respect for the work the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office does.
“I look forward to continuing my campaign and showing voters that I am the only candidate who is in this for the right reason – to serve and protect the state of West Virginia.”
