CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — Voters on Tuesday will pick the Republican candidate for West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture in November.
According to the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, the commissioner “advances the agricultural interests of the state and acts to prevent the spread of plant and animal diseases.”
Here’s who is running in the 2024 West Virginia primaries
Republican Kent Leonhardt has held the position since 2016. He is running in Tuesday’s primary against Josh Higginbotham and Roy Ramey. Deborah Stiles is the only Democrat running.
Here is a look at the candidates ahead of the primaries.
Kent Leonhardt
Leonhardt is a farmer, U.S. Marine Corps Veteran and former State Senator, according to his website. He represented the second senatorial district in 2014 before being elected to the West Virginia Commissioner Agriculture role in 2016.
When talking to 13 News’ Chief Political Reporter Mark Curtis, he said some of his biggest accomplishments were protecting livestock in the Mountain State and revamping emergency plans.
You can listen to his full interview with Mark Curtis by clicking here.
Josh Higginbotham
Higginbotham is a former West Virginia Delegate running as a Republican for Commissioner of Agriculture.
In an interview on “Inside West Virginia Politics,” he says some of the reasons he wants to be the commissioner is because of his family history of farming. He also says there is less agricultural output now than at any other point in West Virginia’s history.
You can listen to his full interview with Mark Curtis by clicking here.
Roy Ramey
Ramey is a Cabell County farmer, retired Veteran, and a self-described Christian and Constitutional Conservative.
He said in an interview with Chief Political Reporter Mark Curtis, Ramey said one of the reasons he wants the job is to get rid of agriculture regulations that are “stifling the small farmers” in West Virginia.
You can listen to his full interview with Mark Curtis by clicking here.
Deborah Stiles
Stiles is the only Democrat running for Agriculture Commissioner, meaning she will go on to be the Democratic nomination in November.
In a video posted by Hampshire County Democrats on Facebook, she says she owns a seven-acre farm in Tucker County.
She says she wants to “fight for everybody’s right to have clean, safe, healthy food” in that video posted to Facebook.
West Virginia’s primary election is set for May 14. The polls will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. For more information on where and how to vote, click here.