by Kate Shunney
Morgan County ballots for the May 14 party primary and non-partisan election attracted more ink in the last week of candidate filing, as prospective politicians made their races official before the filing deadline on Saturday, January 27.
Few surprises popped up in federal and state races in the 2024 election cycle. 
But the local race for two Magistrate court judges and two seats on the Board of Education got more crowded as new candidates stepped in to seek those offices.
In May, voters will pick winners for non-partisan races, including seats on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, the state’s Intermediate Court of Appeals, spots on the bench in the Circuit Court and Family Court, plus Morgan County’s Magistrate Court, the Morgan County Board of Education and the Eastern Panhandle Soil Conservation District.
Those races will be decided at the May 14 primary.
At press time, it appears that Charles Trump IV will be unopposed in his campaign to be elected as a justice to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, replacing retiring Justice John Hutchison. Trump, a State Senator, is a Berkeley Springs attorney who chairs the Senate Judiciary committee.
Partisan races
The partisan primary on May 14 gives voters in each of the political parties a chance to decide which candidate will stand for their party in the General Election in November.
As of press time, based on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s election website and the Morgan County Clerk’s office, here is who is running for what:
U.S. President
Joseph Biden Jr., Democrat, of Wilmington, Del.
Ryan Binkley, Republican, of Dallas, Texas
Nikki Haley, Republican, of Kiawah Island, S.C.
Jason M. Palmer, Democrat, of Baltimore, Md.
Armando Perez-Serrato, Democrat, of Orange, W.Va.
Dean Phillips, Democrat, of Wayzata, Minn.
David Stuckenberg, Republican, of Tampa, Fla.
Rachel Hanna MoHawk Swift, Republican, of Hagerstown, Md. Donald Trump, Republican, of Palm Beach, Fla.
U.S. Senate
Bryan Bird, Republican, of Beckley
Don Blankenship, Democrat, of Sprigg
Glenn Elliott, Democrat, of Wheeling
Jim Justice, Republican, of Lewisburg
Zane Lawhorn, Republican, of Princeton
Don Lindsay, Republican, of Baker
Bryan McKinney, Republican, of Inwood
Janet McNulty, Republican, of Martinsburg
Alex Mooney, Republican, if Charles Town
Zachary Shrewsbury, Democrat, of Princeton
U.S. House of Representatives
Congressional District 2 (including Morgan County)
Dennis “Nate” Cain, Republican, of Hedgesville
Joseph Earley, Republican, of Bridgeport
Alexander Gaaserud, Republican, of Parkersburg
Riley Moore, Republican, of Harpers Ferry
Chris “Mookie” Walker, Republican, of Martinsburg
Steven Wendelin, Democrat, of Lost River.
Governor of West Virginia
Moore Capito, Republican, of Charleston
Kevin “KC” Christian, Republican, of Chloe
Chase Linko-Looper, Mountain Party, of Saint Albans
Chris Miller, Republican, of Huntington
Patrick Morrisey, Republican, of Harpers Ferry
Mitch Roberts, Republican, of Poca
Mac Warner, Republican, of Charleston
Steve Williams, Democrat, of Huntington
Secretary of State
Thornton Cooper, Democrat, of South Charleston
Ken Reed, Republican, of Hedgesville
Doug Skaff, Jr., Republican, of South Charleston
Kris Warner, Republican, of Charleston
Brian Wood, Republican, of Winfied
State Auditor
Caleb Hanna, Republican, of Charleston
Eric Householder, Republican, of Martinsburg
Mark Hunt, Republican, of Charleston
Tricia Jackson, Republican, of Harper’s Ferry
Mary Ann Roebuck Claytor, Democrat, of Saint Albans
State Treasurer
Larry Pack, Republican, of Charleston
Commissioner of Agriculture
Joshua Higginbotham, Republican, of Charleston
Kent Leonhardt, Republican, of Fairview
Roy Ramey, Republican, of Lesage
Attorney General
John “JB” McCuskey, Republican, of Charleston
Richie Robb, Democrat, of South Charleston
Mike Stuart, Republican, of South Charleston
Teresa Toriseva, Democrat, of Wheeling
State Senate
Senatorial District 15 (part of Berkeley, Morgan, Hampshire, part of Mineral)
Craig Blair, Republican, of Martinsburg
Michael “Mike” Folk, Republican, of Martinsburg
Anthony Murray, Democrat, of Capon Bridge
Thomas “Tom” Willis, Republican, of Martinsburg
State Delegate—1 per district
District 89
(western Morgan County)
Alyson Reeves, Democrat, of Levels
Darren Thorne, Republican, of Romney
District 90
(central/eastern Morgan County)
George Miller, Republican, of Berkeley Springs
Mike Riccio, Republican, of Berkeley Springs
Morgan County Sheriff
Brock Vanorsdale, Republican
Johnnie Walter, Republican
Morgan County
Prosecuting Attorney
Dan James, Republican
Morgan County Commissioner
Sean Forney, Republican
Morgan County Assessor
Debbie Weaver, Republican
The following non-partisan positions will be elected on May 14:
Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals – Division 1
Haley Bunn of Charleston
Justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals – Division 2
Charles S. Trump IV of Berkeley Springs
Intermediate Court of Appeals
Elgine McArdle of Wheeling
Mychal S. Schulz of Charleston
Ryan White of Charleston
27th Judicial Circuit
(Morgan & Berkeley—5 judges)
Catie Wilkes Delligatti of Martinsburg, Division 1
Laura V. Faircloth of Martinsburg, Division 2
Michael D. Lorensen, Division 5
Debra McLaughlin of Falling Waters, Division 3
Steven Redding, of Martinsburg, Division 4
Family Court 23rd Circuit
(Morgan, Hampshire, Mineral)
Meredith Haines of Keyser, Division 1
Deanna Rock of Keyser, Division 2
Morgan County Magistrate–2
Greg Miller, Division 1
Keith Knotts, Division 1
Angie Schmidt, Division 1
Kim “KC” Bohrer, Division 2
Debra “Debbie” Ditto, Division 2
Michael Sullivan, Division 2
Morgan County
Board of Education—2 seats
John Rowland, District 2
Charles Bergen, District 4
Dylan Beddow, District 4