Kris Warner wins GOP secretary of state nomination; J.B McCuskey gets GOP nod for attorney general

David Beard, The Dominion Post, Morgantown, W.Va.
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May 14—MORGANTOWN — Kris Warner won the four-way primary race for the Republican nomination for secretary of state and will face Democrat Thornton Cooper — who was unchallenged in the primary — in November.

And the in race for attorney general, Republican state Treasurer J.B. McCuskey defeated state Sen. Mike Stuart and will face Wheeling attorney Teresa Toriseva.

Secretary of state Warner is executive director of the state Economic Development Authority and brother of current Secretary of State Mac Warner. His opponents were Doug Skaff, a former Kanawha County Democratic delegate who announced his switch to the Republican Party in October ; Ken Reed, a former Berkeley County GOP delegate ; and Brian Wood, Putnam County clerk.

Thornton Cooper is a South Charleston attorney who has served on the Kanawha County and South Charleston Democratic Executive Committees The numbers, with 1, 209 of 1, 684 precincts reporting: Warner, 72, 841 votes (45 %); Skaff, 34, 108 (21 %); Reed, 27, 360 (17 %); Wood, 26, 952 (17 %).

Attorney general Toriseva defeated South Charleston attorney and former mayor Richie Robb.

The numbers:

Republicans: McCuskey, 93, 793 (60 %); Stuart, 62, 335 (40 %).

Democrats: Toriseva, 43, 138 (55 %); Robb, 35, 643 (45 %).

Other races Auditor Republican Mark Hunt will face Democrat Mary Ann Claytor, who was unchallenged, in November.

The numbers:

State Sen. Mark Hunt 58, 648 (38 %); Eric Householder, current House of Delegates majority leader, 40, 090 (26 %); Tricia Jackson, former Jefferson County commissioner who was removed from office on May 1, 30, 283 (20 %); former Nicholas County Delegate Caleb Hanna 24, 091 (16 %).

Agriculture commissioner Incumbent Republican Kent Leonhardt won the three-way Republican race and will face Democrat Deborah Stiles, who was unchallenged, in November.

The numbers Leonhardt 77, 271 (51 %); former Delegate Joshua Higginbotham, 46, 532 (31 %); Roy Ramey, 27, 516 (18 %).

State treasurer Republican Larry Pack is unopposed in the primary and in November.

All figures are unofficial pending canvassing.

Email: dbeard @dominionpos.com