CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — One of the most closely watched political races in West Virginia on both sides of the aisle is for attorney general.
Wheeling Attorney Teresa Toriseva and former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb are running as Democrats.
Republican State Auditor JB McCuskey and Republican State Senator Mike Stuart are vying for their party’s nomination.
The candidates are sharply divided on whether the attorney general should have the authority to investigate crimes, as Stuart has proposed.
Spirited race for Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney
“We’ve got a serious problem with corruption in West Virginia. Now the good old boys don’t want to tell you about corruption, but all across West Virginia whether it’s localities, our counties, our cities, we need somebody who can be the point person in terms of corruption,” said Mike Stuart, (R) Candidate for WV Attorney General.
“So, I work every single day with our 55 county prosecutors and our 55 sheriffs, and I trust them. And because of that trust, I believe the attorney general’s role, as it is constitutionally set out now, is appropriate,” said JB McCuskey, (R) Candidate for WV Attorney General.
“Firmly opposed. I think that’s a mistake to do that. We have 55 county prosecutors. They are all elected in their counties. They are well prepared and able to make those prosecution decisions,” said Teresa Toriseva, (D) Candidate for WV Attorney General.
“I probably fall a little bit in the middle on that. I certainly would not oppose it if the legislature granted that prosecutorial authority,” said Richie Robb, (D) Candidate for WV Attorney General.
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The Democrat and Republican winners of Tuesday’s primary will face off in the November election. The office has been open since three-term Attorney General Patrick Morrisey decided to run for governor this year.
A recent MetroNews poll has the Republican primary very close with JB McCuskey at 37%, Mike Stuart at 36%, and 27% still undecided. We’ve not seen a poll for the Democrats yet.