Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, speaks to the House of Representatives on Jan. 14, the opening day of the 2026 legislative session. (Photo by Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislative Photography)
Members of the West Virginia Democratic Executive Committee have called on Chairman Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, re-elected to another four-year term.
The committee voted 43-32 to re-elect Pushkin on Saturday during its organizational meeting in Charleston, West Virginia.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve as chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party,” Pushkin said in a news release Monday. “The work of rebuilding our party belongs to all of us – our district organizations, volunteers, candidates, labor partners, activists and grassroots Democrats across the state who continue to show up, organize and fight for a better West Virginia.”
Pushkin won against his challenger Teresa Torisevaa Wheeling attorney who was vice chairman of the committee. Toriseva said in a press statement last week announcing her candidacy that Pushkin had lost the party’s trust.
“The public is demanding a reformed and revitalized Democratic Party, and the party must urgently meet these demands,” she and two candidates for committee leadership positions wrote in a June 1 press release. “It is not enough to fill vacancies for Democratic candidates; the Democratic Party and its leader must work to help these candidates win, including raising sufficient resources and ensuring transparency and collaboration. Under the current leader, the Democratic Party has lost seats in the West Virginia House of Representatives and Senate. The party must grow and be ready to win seats in the Capitol in November.”
Toriseva did not respond to a message seeking comment Monday morning.
Pushkin congratulated Toriseva on her leadership campaign, saying she had raised essential questions and that these conversations were valuable as members worked to strengthen the party.
In addition to Pushkin, the committee also elected Pam Tucker Cline of Nicholas County as vice chair and Wellsburg Mayor Daniel Dudley as second vice chair.
“Pam Tucker Cline has spent countless hours serving her community and strengthening our party,” Pushkin said in the news release. “Anyone who knows Pam knows her enthusiasm, kindness and generosity. She leads by example and her commitment to helping others is reflected in everything she does. I look forward to working with her and our entire leadership team as we continue to build a stronger Democratic Party.”
Pushkin said Dudley demonstrated effective leadership skills as mayor and was a “strong advocate for working families and local communities.”
“His experience as an elected official and commitment to public service will be a great asset to our party,” he said in the statement.
Pushkin said the party’s attention would now focus on the parliamentary elections.
“The first step was to recruit candidates willing to challenge Republicans at all levels of government, and I am proud that Democrats recruited a record number of candidates this year to put their names on the ballot,” Pushkin said. “Now our focus shifts to helping these candidates win in November.”
