Charleston, W.Va. — West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner announced Wednesday that former Delegate David Elliott Pritt has formally withdrawn his candidacy for the November 3, 2026 General Election. The Secretary of State’s Office received Pritt’s notarized withdrawal statement this afternoon, meeting the statutory deadline of August 11, 2026, outlined in W. Va. Code § 3‑5‑11(b)(2).
Under changes enacted by the Legislature in 2024, a withdrawal creates a ballot vacancy that cannot be filled by the candidate’s political party. Warner emphasized that the law is explicit: the Republican Party cannot appoint a replacement nominee for the General Election.
“The Office of the Secretary of State serves a ministerial role for candidate filing, and has very little authority to exercise discretion in candidacy matters,” Warner said. “The law in this instance is clear. Because the Legislature removed the opportunity for political parties to select replacement candidates on the ballot when a vacancy is created by withdrawal, there is no alternative option to replace the candidate on the ballot.”
With Pritt’s withdrawal, the West Virginia State Election Commission will no longer consider his eligibility challenge during its scheduled August 7, 2026 meeting. The SEC will still convene to address other election‑related matters.
Voters can find additional information about the upcoming General Election at GoVoteWV.com or through their county clerk’s website.
