Adopted by WVGOP State Executive Committee on January 27, 2024
WHEREAS, voters in West Virginia and across the country who identify as Republican do so for a reason; and
WHEREAS, the Republican Party believes in promoting liberty, economic prosperity, personal responsibility, conservative principles, and the preservation of family values and the American dream, and at a minimum, voters expect their Republican leaders, elected officials, and candidates to subscribe to these values, and by and large, voters find that to be the case; and
WHEREAS, in West Virginia, the Republican Party has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, and we certainly welcome voters and public servants who join the Party as a matter of policies and principles; and
WHEREAS, unfortunately, because the Republican nomination for public office in West Virginia has become so coveted, voters must be especially vigilant to ensure the Republican candidates for whom they vote are Republicans for the right reason; and
WHEREAS, for example, a few months ago, the Leader of the House Democrat Caucus resigned from his leadership position and seat in the House of Delegates and has since registered as a Republican, taking steps to pursue a run for Secretary of State. During his tenure as the House Minority Leader, he co-sponsored legislation to institute universal absentee voting, ballot drop boxes, and the elimination of signature match requirements for provisional ballots. The Delegate voted to allow biological men to compete in women’s sports, and he repeatedly voted against Republican, pro-life legislation. He was a reliable vote for his caucus’ liberal agenda and a regular vote against many pieces of conservative Republican legislation that we now call law; and
WHEREAS, even the Chair of the West Virginia Democrat Party said, “While I appreciate [him] finally putting his cards on the table about his long-rumored, politically expedient party switch, I’m surprised he would try to reinvent himself as a right-wing-conservative in the process”; and
WHEREAS, it is the responsibility of Republican primary voters to choose their nominees, and while the WVGOP trusts the primary process, the Party must also continue to be a resource to its voters as they research candidates and legislation; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the West Virginia Republican Party strongly encourages Republican primary voters to carefully research candidates and nominate true conservatives in the May election.
