CHARLESTON W.Va. (WVDN) – West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin and Party Vice Chair Teresa Toriseva today condemned the West Virginia Republican Party’s decision to close its primary elections to the nearly 300,000 independent voters in the state, who make up roughly 30% of the total electorate.
“This is a clear case of political hypocrisy,” said Pushkin. “Republicans were for open primaries before they were against them. Now, because they fear a loss of control, they want to slam the door on 300,000 independent voters who’ve been participating in our elections for years. That’s not leadership — that’s cowardice.”
The Republican Party’s reversal comes after years of supporting open primaries, a system that allows unaffiliated voters to participate in the selection of party nominees. “Let’s be real,” said Teresa Toriseva. “The reason Republicans oppose open primaries now is simple — open primaries give power to the people. Closed primaries give power to party bosses. This is about control, not principle.”
Pushkin emphasized that open primaries are about expanding access and encouraging participation — not restricting it. “In a time when we should be doing everything possible to increase voter turnout and civic engagement, the West Virginia GOP is doing the opposite,” Pushkin said. “This move will suppress participation, not increase it. And that flies in the face of everything our constitutional republic stands for.”
Toriseva added: “The health of our democracy depends on more people — not fewer — having a voice in who represents them. Republicans should be ashamed of erecting barriers to participation, especially when independents make up nearly a third of our electorate.”
“We Democrats understand that not everyone in this state agrees all the time — and that’s okay,” said Pushkin. “The clash of ideas is how we make a stronger party, a stronger state, and a stronger country. If you’re a registered independent in West Virginia,” Pushkin continued, “we respectfully remind you that you are welcome to vote in our Democratic primary. And more than that — we invite you to join us in building a better West Virginia for everyone.”
