Prominent Republican State Legislator Announces Candidacy for Attorney General in 2024
Republican Ryan Weld has joined the race for Attorney General amidst other high-profile 2024 election announcements.
Weld represents Brooke County as a state senator, an office he has held since 2016. He previously served one term in the House of Delegates. During his time in the state senate, Weld acted as the Senate Majority Whip and Assistant Judiciary Committee Chairman.
According to information released by his Campaign, Weld is an Air Force Reserve Veteran who served in Afghanistan. While on active duty, he worked in the US Intelligence Community. Weld returned to the mountain state in 2011.
Weld is a former assistant prosecuting attorney for Brooke County. He is currently employed as an attorney at Spillman, Thomas, and Battle at their Wheeling office. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Fairmont State University in 2003 and a Juris Doctor from Duquesne University in 2015.
Weld’s campaign issued a press release following the announcement: “D.C. is clearly out of touch with the needs and worries of everyday West Virginians. I vow to continue the tremendous work started by Patrick Morrisey against Washington’s overreach and ensure that the progress we have made in the past few years isn’t stopped by bureaucrats and politicians who have never been here.” His campaign announcement was held in Wheeling, West Virginia.
His Candidacy follows Current Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s decision to run for Governor in 2024, leaving an open seat for the Office. Morrisey has served as Attorney General since 2013.
Weld may soon have company in the race as Republican Mike Stuart is expected to announce his political future soon. Many speculate that he will seek the Republican nomination to run for Attorney General in the general election. Stuart commented on the role of the Attorney General’s Office in a statement he released, saying: “With radical liberals running Washington, it’s more important than ever that West Virginia has an Attorney General who is a real conservative who is consistent with the values of most West Virginians and who is fully prepared on Day 1 to fight back.”
The Attorney General serves as the chief legal and law enforcement officer in West Virginia and is tasked with offering legal opinions and representing the state in legal matters. According to the Attorney General’s website, the office handles a broad range of legal areas such as consumer protection, civil rights, tax & revenue, criminal appeals, and other critical litigation involving the state.
The 2024 election is quickly taking shape in West Virginia. In addition to Morrisey, Secretary of State Mac Warner and Auditor J.B. McCuskey have announced that they will run for Governor’s office in 2024. Delegate Caleb Hanna, a Republican from Nicholas County, has stated that he will run for Auditor in the next election cycle. At the same time, Republican Delegate Chris Pratt of Kanawha County has announced his candidacy for Secretary of State.
