MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A judge has ordered the Secretary of State to remove Sawyer Dennison from the ballot in the Republican primary election for the House of Delegates 78th District in Monongalia County.
In an order entered Thursday, Kanawha County Circuit Judge Carrie Webster granted a writ of mandamus sought by petitioner John Sedoski, a resident in the 78th District.
Sedoski asked the court to compel the Secretary of State to withdraw Dennison’s Certificate of Candidacy and strike his name from the primary ballot.
On March 16, District resident John Sedoski filed a Writ of Mandamus and Motion for Expedited Relief, requesting that Dennison be removed from the ballot, claiming that Dennison did not meet the residency requirements to run in the 78th district. While Dennison’s address falls within the district, Dennison signed the lease for that residence in November 2025. West Virginia State law requires that a candidate be a resident of their district for at least one year immediately prior to an election.
In a response to the petition, Dennison did not challenge the claims and conceded that the request should be granted.
The Secretary of State’s Office responded to the petition earlier this week but did not take a position on the factual allegations.
According to his campaign website, Dennison is a recent West Virginia University graduate and worked with US Senator Chuck Grasserly.
Del. Geno Chiarelli currently represents the 78th District and is running for re-election to his third term in the House of Delegates. Cohen Terneus is also seeking the GOP nomination in the 78th District. However, according to the Secretary of State’s Campaign Finance Reporting System,
Terneus has raised less than a $1,000 for the campaign.
**A previous version of this story incorrectly stated Dennison had raised less than $1,000**