Toriseva to challenge Pushkin for Chair of WV Democrats

By RealWV Staff,

CHARLESTON, WV — Teresa Toriseva, Sam Petsonk, and Cindy Lavender-Bowe have formed a coalition to vie for leadership of the Democratic Party of West Virginia where Toriseva would be Chair, Petsonk would be First Vice Chair, and Lavender-Bowe would be Second Vice Chair.

Both Toriseva and Petsonk are attorneys who currently serve in state party leadership. Toriseva is the First Vice Chair while Petsonk is Second Vice Chair and Democratic National Committee Committeeman. They argue that a new direction is needed.

“The Party has lost confidence in the current Chair,” Toriseva said of current Chair and Delegate Mike Pushkin. “I will rebuild broken relationships and be a Chair that never stops fighting for working people and their families.”

“This party is positioned to begin building and winning elections, not because of any one person, but because of the tireless efforts of all of the volunteers around the state in the county committees, the women’s clubs, labor organizations, and the candidates who have stepped up to run,” Petsonk said. “What must be recognized is that work includes organizing, fundraising, and direct voter contact.”

Lavender-Bowe, a former delegate from Greenbrier County, said the time is right for a change. “Our Party has made real progress in recent years. We’ve recruited more candidates. We’ve expanded our outreach and we’ve brought new energy to county committees all across our state. This teamwork only continues with a team leader. Teresa Toriseva is that leader.”

But Pushkin doesn’t appear to be stepping aside from his current role as Chair. “The members of the Executive Committee know how much work went into filling the ballots and putting us in a great position to win in November. I am laser focused on taking the fight to Republicans every day.”

“Just this morning, we issued a release exposing Republican Senator Jay Taylor for failing to report income from his constitutionally questionable position with the State Auditor’s Office,” he stated. “Teresa put out a press release promoting herself.”

Pushkin says infighting could cost the party progress. “Republicans engaged in a Civil War during the primary season, which now has their party more divided than ever. Democrats must not repeat that same mistake if we’re to take advantage of the opportunity we’ve been given by having our opponents so divided.”

“The question before us now is simple: do we spend our time fighting each other, or do we spend our time fighting Republicans and winning elections? I know where my focus is,” Pushkin concluded.

The election to decide the party’s immediate future will be held on June 6. Stay tuned to RealWV for updates.