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Moore wins State Treasurer race; constitutional officers retain seats

Riley Moore, pictured during his time with the West Virginia Legislature. (Photo Provided)

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Democratic State Treasurer John Perdue’s hopes for a seventh historic term as the state’s banker were dashed Tuesday after Republican Riley Moore won the majority of the vote.

According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office’s unofficial voter totals Tuesday night, Moore defeated Perdue 299,090 (58.04%) to 216,251 (41.96%) with 35 out of 55 counties reporting results at press time for a 15.9 percentage point margin.

The victory of Moore — a former Jefferson County lawmaker — came as a shock, as most independent polls had Perdue leading Moore prior to Election Day. It is the first time a Republican will hold the post of State Treasurer in 92 years.

“To be honest, it’s pretty mind blowing the lead that we have,” Moore said by phone Tuesday night. “We did start almost two years ago. With the support of my family I was able to get over the line.”

A Republican from Shepherdstown, Moore is the grandson of the late governor Arch Moore Jr. His aunt is U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. His cousin, Moore Capito, is a member of the House of Delegates representing part of Kanawha County.

Moore won his first term for the House of Delegates in 2016, defeating agriculture lobbyist and former state Young Democrats president Rod Snyder in a close race. There was talk of Moore becoming the majority leader for the House Republican Caucus under House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, R-Clay, before Moore’s defeat in 2018 by Del. John Doyle, D-Jefferson.

“It is certainly a resounding victory,” Moore said. “The people of West Virginia put their trust in me, and I take the very seriously. We are going to certainly execute on their behalf. It’s all very overwhelming.”

A Boone County native, the 70-year-old Perdue was first elected treasurer in 1996. Before that, he worked for the late state agriculture commissioner Gus Douglass. Perdue left the Department of Agriculture in 1989 to work for former Gov. Gaston Caperton. Since winning his first election as the state’s banker in 1996, Perdue has served six terms in office.

Perdue is the 24th person to hold the office of state treasurer and is the longest serving state treasurer in West Virginia history. Perdue is also the only Democrat left on the Board of Public Works until Moore is sworn in January of next year. A request for comment from the Perdue campaign was not returned by press time Tuesday night.

In other Board of Public Works races:

∫ Republican State Auditor J.B. McCuskey easily defeated Democratic opponent Mary Ann Claytor, winning a second term. McCuskey received 339,055 votes (67.04%) compared to Claytor’s 166,718 votes (32.96%) — a margin of more than 33 percentage points.

McCuskey held a small gathering at his home in Charleston on Tuesday night and streamed his statement through Facebook.

“We are excited … we are just on cloud nine with these results,” McCuskey said. “For four years, our office has been focused solely on creating a government that is smaller, more efficient, more effective, and more transparent.”

The race was a rematch of 2016, when Claytor — a former employee of the State Auditor’s Office — and McCuskey — and attorney and former Kanawha County lawmaker — both ran for the seat vacated by former state auditor Glen Gainer. McCuskey defeated Claytor in 2016 with 58% to 35%.

∫ Republican Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt was approved for a second term, defeating state Sen. Bob Beach, D-Monongalia, by more than 17 percentage points. Leonhardt, a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer and former state senator, received 309,031 votes (58.89%), while Beach received 215,003 votes (41.11%).

“I am extremely grateful to have earned your vote again,” Leonhardt said in a statement posted to Facebook. “My staff and I promise to continue to work tirelessly over the next four years

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