Mike Pushkin will remain chairman of West Virginia’s Democratic Party.
Pushkin, who has been chairman for the past four years, was challenged by the first vice chair, Teresa Toriseva.
On Saturday, during a regular organizational meeting, Pushkin won on a 43-32 vote. Pushkin walked across the room and shook Toriseva’s hand.
“I know this can be a messy process, but that’s how how democracy works, and that’s how we make sure that everybody’s voice is heard because we’re the Democratic Party, and that’s how we do things,” Pushkin said before the vote.
Pushkin, who is also a state delegate from Charleston, emphasized that the party chair’s job has been an uphill battle.
Democrats, who used to be the dominant political party in West Virginia, now have almost 327,000 registered voters in the state, about 27% of the overall number of registered voters.
The Republican Party has more than 521,000 registered voters, about 43% of the total number.
But Pushkin pointed to progress in filling positions on ballots and momentum toward the general election. He said much of that has been possible by strengthening local Democratic organizations.
“So one of the reasons I want to stay on: I want to help y’all get across the finish line. I want to help this state get across the finish line because right now, no matter what happens, we got to walk out of here arm and arm, because the stakes are too high,” he said.
Toriseva is a Wheeling attorney who ran in 2024 for state attorney general, losing in the general election.
She told Democrats who gathered Saturday that she would place an emphasis on fundraising to help support candidates.
“I think Mike is a hard working chair. That isn’t enough. We need money, and we have to raise that money, and it’s the job of the chair,” Toriseva said.
“I will tell you that I see the primary duty of the chair to be fundraising, because it is the office that allows you to do it. So, I will be a chief fundraiser, that will be a focus, and that that money will be to benefit candidates, which is why we’re here.”
In other top positions, Democrats voted for:
1st vice chair Pam Tucker-Cline of Summersville
2nd vice chair Mayor Daniel Dudley of Wellsburg
Treasurer Danielle Stewart of Beckley