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WVDP Applauds Senator Garcia on Passage of Bill Ensuring Fairness in Filling Legislative Vacancies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2025

CHARLESTON, WV – The West Virginia Democratic Party congratulates Senator Joey Garcia on having SB 586 signed into law by the Governor. This critical legislation ensures that vacancies in the West Virginia Legislature are filled in a fair and transparent manner, respecting the choice made by voters.

Senator Garcia's bill mandates that the Governor appoint a replacement to fill a legislative vacancy from the same party that originally held the seat at the time of election, rather than the party to which the official may have switched prior to the vacancy.

Senator Joey Garcia, the bill's primary sponsor, emphasized, "This is a bill about fundamental fairness and ensuring the will of the voters, and not the party in power, is reflected in filling vacancies in the legislature."

West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin praised Senator Garcia’s initiative, stating, “The Supreme Court got it wrong in 2016, when they ignored the will of the voters in their decision to allow Daniel Hall's seat to go to a Republican, ignoring the fact that Hall was elected as a Democrat. The Republicans in the Legislature got it wrong in 2018 when they codified this bad decision into law because it benefited them politically to do so. We knew it was a bad law when earlier this year the Republicans twisted themselves into knots in order to ignore the law they passed in 2018 so they wouldn't have to fill the vacancy they created in House District 91 with a Democrat. We applaud Senator Garcia for righting this wrong and restoring the voice of the people to this process.”

The signing of this bill marks a significant victory for voter integrity and democratic principles in West Virginia.

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