John McCuskey poses for photos with his wife Wendy McCuskey and their daughter, Charlotte Anne, on Tuesday after the press conference held outside the state Capitol, where he announced he will be running for state auditor.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Delegate J.B. McCuskey declared his candidacy for state auditor on Tuesday.
The two-term Kanawha County Republican has been a member of the House of Delegates for three years. In a general election, he could face incumbent state Auditor Glen Gainer III, a Democrat finishing up his seventh term as West Virginia’s official bookkeeper, chief inspector and supervisor of public offices.
As of Tuesday, no other candidate has declared for the auditor’s race.
McCuskey told the Gazette-Mail last month that party leaders have been recruiting him to seek a higher office. At the time, he said he was still considering a run for auditor.
“There were a lot of family things to think about,” he said before making his announcement public at the Capitol on Tuesday. “I prayed about it and talked with my family, and I think now is the time to jump into the fray and help move West Virginia forward.”
At his announcement, McCuskey was joined by Senate President Bill Cole, R-Mercer; House Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha; and other Republican Party leaders…
