CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Republican Party said Friday that it has reaffirmed its support for Republican nominees and that members of party executive committees who run as write-in candidates against those nominees violate party bylaws.
The statement, issued September 18, comes after Ken Reed filed as a write-in candidate in the 15th Senatorial District. The party said Reed’s write-in candidacy resulted in the automatic termination of his membership on the West Virginia Republican Party’s State Executive Committee.
“In the Republican Party, our nominees are chosen by the Republican voters during the primary election,” the party said in its statement. “The West Virginia Republican Party stands firmly behind all of our nominees for public office.”
The party said the provision applies to members of both the state and county Republican executive committees.
“If any member of the West Virginia Republican Party’s State Executive Committee or any member of a county executive committee files to run as a write-in candidate against a Republican nominee, regardless of their Republican party registration, they are running against the Republican nominee for that office and are acting in violation of the State Party’s Bylaws,” the party said.
The party said such members “will be removed from party office automatically.”
The West Virginia Republican Party’s published bylaws contain provisions governing members of the State Executive Committee who publicly assist candidates opposing Republican candidates. The bylaws state that a committee member who, through a public action, endorses or otherwise provides public assistance to a non-Republican candidate in a contested or uncontested campaign “to the detriment of the Republican candidate” forfeits membership rights and is removed from the active membership roster.
The party’s September 18 statement specifically identifies Reed’s candidacy as triggering the provision.
“As a result of the Write-in Candidacy of Ken Reed in the 15th Senatorial District, per the bylaws of the West Virginia Republican Party, Mr. Reed’s membership on the West Virginia Republican Party’s State Executive Committee has been automatically terminated,” the statement said.
Reed, a Hedgesville resident, was a Republican candidate for the 15th Senate District in the May 12 primary. He was also listed among the Republican candidates for the State Executive Committee’s 15th Senatorial District male seats.
The 15th Senatorial District includes portions of Berkeley, Hampshire and Morgan counties. The Republican primary ballot listed Reed, Darren Thorne and Robert B. Wolford among the candidates for state Senate in the district.
The party also said its official support and resources are reserved for Republican nominees.
“Republican nominees are the only candidates who have the support of the West Virginia Republican Party and its resources,” the party said.
The statement did not announce any additional disciplinary action against other party officials or candidates.
The West Virginia Republican Party’s bylaws establish the State Executive Committee as the governing body of the state party and set rules governing the conduct and membership of its committee members.
