WILLIAMS
PARKERSBURG — The mayor of Huntington filed pre-candidacy papers Thursday with the secretary of state to run for governor in 2024.
“I’m running for governor because I believe the best of West Virginia is yet to come,” Democrat Steve Williams said. “From revitalizing Huntington’s economy to combating the opioid crisis with innovative solutions, my track record speaks for itself.”
Williams is a native of Huntington who played football at Marshall University. He was elected to the House of Delegates in 2012, 2016 and 2020 and is in a third consecutive term as mayor of Huntington.
“Today, Huntington is recognized around the country as a city of solutions,” he said.
The field of Democrats filing as pre-candidates for the nomination in the primary is wide open.
Cecil Silva, who filed in April as a Democrat pre-candidate, filed a statement of dissolution in July saying his committee will cease all activities and not accept contributions or expend funds.
Among the announced candidates for governor on the Republican side are Delegate Moore Capito of Kanawha County, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, Secretary of State Mac Warner and Huntington businessman Chris Miller.
Libertarian, Mountain, independent and Constitution party candidates also have filed pre-candidacy papers.
Pre-candidates are not committed to run for the office for which they have announced, but can conduct campaign activities such as accepting contributions and making expenditures.
The candidate filing period in West Virginia begins on Jan. 8 and ends at midnight Jan. 27.
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