CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The top vote getter in the race to replace House Speaker Tim Armstead’s seat has the support of Armstead himself.
Dean Jeffries won the Republican nomination Tuesday night for Kanawha County’s 40th Delegate District.
Armstead previously endorsed Jeffries.
“I’ve had him running along with me this whole time and giving me support. It was a hard fought race, a long day, but it’s good,” Jeffries told 580-WCHS after his victory.
“Those are huge shoes to fill, but I walk with faith, so I think we’ll be okay.”
The district covers the Elk River communities. Jeffries, of Elkview, said he was inspired to run after the 2016 flood.
“We watched a lot of families move out of the area. Just like West Virginia, we’re seeing our population decrease and we’ve got to do something about that,” Jeffries said.
If elected, Jeffries wants to focus on job creation.
“We’ve got to bring jobs back to West Virginia and build our tax base back because the West Virginians we have left here — we can’t burden that anymore. It’s just breaking our backs,” he said.
This is Jeffries first time running for public office. He defeated Republican candidates Ronald Shamblin and Kenneth Tawney.
Democrat Melissa Riggs Huffman ran unopposed and secured the nomination.
Jeffries will challenge Huffman in the November election.