In 2019, one of the most influential Democrats in the West Virginia legislature has declared his intention to join the Republican Party and compete for secretary of state.
In a statement that accompanied his pre-candidacy registration, Doug Skaff pledged that he would “bring a deep understanding of our laws, demonstrate strong leadership abilities, and uphold and promote fairness, transparency, and integrity in all aspects of the office in today’s ever-changing world.” It’s plenty for me.
After submitting their pre-candidacy documentation, campaigns can start collecting funds and submitting campaign finance reports. A candidate is not regarded as a serious contender unless they submit a separate certificate of announcement and the required filing fee. The formal registration period for the 2024 election is January.
According to Fox News, Skaff left his positions as Democratic leader and Kanawha County representative in August.
Skaff’s assertion appeared to be met with scepticism from West Virginia Republican Party Chairwoman Elgine McArdle.
“The West Virginia Republican Party welcomes those who really support our cause and acknowledges the intellectual variations that might exist within the Party; However, Republican supporters frequently have to choose between “philosophical nuances” and “diametric ideological opposition,” according to a statement from McCardle. The approaching contest is one of those instances now that Skaff, despite his illustrious liberal record in the House, is identifying himself as a “Republican.”
Skaff claims he is pro-life, pro-guns, and pro-coal, and like many others, his views haven’t changed; only his party affiliation has.
In West Virginia, 100,000 Republicans did not suddenly alter their party identification, according to Skaff. These were traditional conservative Democrats from the past who just registered with a different party. Like many others before me, I am aware that I am neither the first nor the last to collaborate with a Republican Party team that primarily serves the interests of West Virginia.
Skaff first stepped foot inside the House in 2009, staying there until 2014. 2018 saw his election again. HD Media, where he works, is the owner of the Charleston Gazette-Mail and other publications in the state.
Skaff is one of many former Democrats who have recently joined the GOP.
Rep. Jeremy LaCombe of Louisiana’s state legislature declared last month that he had switched from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party.
LaCombe changed parties for an unspecified reason, but he is now the second Democrat in Louisiana to do so in less than a month and the third in the nation after a state senator in North Carolina did the same.
Republicans just secured a supermajority in the state House, a requirement for overriding vetoes and passing tax proposals, as a result of another Democrat, Rep. Francis Thompson of Delhi, switching to the GOP.
A North Carolina state legislator named Tricia Cotham carried out a similar action earlier this month.
LaCombe won his House seat in 2019 by defeating Republicans with 68% of the vote in a special election and 62% of the vote in a general election.