Teresa Toriseva presents her case Sept. 13 before the state Supreme Court during oral arguments at Marshall University. | Photo from Marshall University
CHARLESTON – A Democrat has jumped into the race for West Virginia attorney general.
Wheeling attorney Teresa Toriseva announced her candidacy on January 23.
“I love being a courtroom lawyer for people,” Toriseva said in a press release announcing her campaign. “I bring real experience from the courtroom, fighting huge banks and giant corporations for working people. I have also fought to protect public safety for more than 10 years, protecting the wages of firefighters, police officers and other first responders, from Weirton to Beckley and Huntington to Martinsburg.
“My favorite part of being a lawyer is that I get to stand in the courtroom and fight for people. I am ready to fight for equal rights for all West Virginians.”
Republican State Auditor J.B. McCuskey is the only candidate to have filed paperwork for the position being vacated by gubernatorial nominee Patrick Morrisey. McCuskey filed the paperwork on January 22.
During an appearance on the Talkline MetroNews radio show, Toriseva said she faces a challenge when the letter D appears on the ballot.
“I’m vice-chair of the Democratic Party of West Virginia and I’m proud to be a Democrat,” she told host Hoppy Kercheval. “There is a lot of excitement among Democrats. In my opinion, West Virginia is neither Democratic nor Republican, but leans towards Independence.
“I’m running for Attorney General because the people of West Virginia deserve a lawyer who will work as tough as they do and who is committed to justice, fairness and the well-being of every citizen. My priorities include fighting the opioid crisis that has devastated our communities by holding huge pharmaceutical companies accountable for the harm they cause.
“My goal is to ensure transparency, integrity and the continued pursuit of justice in the Attorney General’s office. I am running to be the people’s lawyer.”
Toriseva said that as AG she will give West Virginians “a voice and a choice.”
“I want to use my courtroom experience in this role,” she said. “Attorney General represents the state of West Virginia. People expect the AG to be their voice, their lawyer for the people.”
Kercheval noted that current AG Morrisey has engaged in several issues at the national level, such as filing lawsuits against the current Biden administration and some hot-button issues such as the NCAA transfer rule. Toriseva said she thinks it will focus on more local activities than the AG.
““I would focus on the entire state and the choices would be made individually,” she said of joining national debates on the issue. “I don’t think I would focus on the same thing. This would be more responsive to the needs of West Virginians.
“There are many people whose voices are not heard. I think it’s important for them to be heard. You work for everyone. In my opinion, decisions about engaging in political struggles must be made very carefully. And let’s be honest, that’s who they are. You represent everyone once elected.”
Toriseva said she and other Democrats may be taking notes from Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who just won a second term as a Democrat in another very conservative state.
“Remember who you’re talking to, it’s everyone,” Toriseva told Kercheval. “We deal with everyone’s problems. I see that the Democratic Party has a lot of work to do to teach people what we stand for.
“But I would encourage people to look at my 30 years of experience in the legal community. These are real results and that’s what we want.”
And she says she’s ready to get statewide results.
“Legal work is significant and the Attorney General’s role as an independent constitutional officer is extremely important,” she said. “And I am ready for this challenge.”
Toriseva grew up in Cameron and graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University and West Virginia University College of Law. After graduating from law school, she practiced in Charleston for 10 years before returning to Wheeling to take care of her family and start her own law firm.
She was repeatedly appointed special assistant attorney general to fight on behalf of the people of West Virginia against giant corporations. As a result, West Virginia taxpayers were able to recover millions of dollars.
Sam Petsonk will be Toriseva’s campaign treasurer.
McCuskey originally planned to run for governor, but dropped out of the race in July to focus on the AG position.
Fellow Republican Mike Stuart, a state senator and former U.S. attorney, has not yet officially filed the necessary paperwork to run for AG. The deadline for submitting applications is January 27.
In October, Stuart called on McCuskey for “significant contributions” from personal injury lawyers to his campaign. Stuart was critical of the contributions of “Democratic personal injury attorneys” to McCuskey’s campaign.
Ryan Weld, another Republican state senator, also announced plans to run for AG. However, in November he announced his intention to run for re-election to the state Senate.
