A 24-year-old Republican state representative from West Virginia is resigning to focus on his campaign for state auditor.
Caleb Hanna could become the youngest African-American to hold state office.
Nicholas County Representative Caleb Hanna was first elected to the state Legislature in 2018 at the age of 19, making him the youngest African-American to serve in West Virginia's state legislature. In a letter announcing his resignation on Wednesday, a week before the Legislature opens on Jan. 10, he said he wanted to devote his “maximum attention and effort” to his campaign for auditor.
West Virginia State Capitol. (St. Petersburg)
“I believe this role provides a unique opportunity to positively impact the fiscal health and transparency of state government,” Hanna wrote. “To effectively serve the people of West Virginia in this capacity, I must spend my time and energy meeting with constituents, understanding their concerns, and working towards solutions that will benefit our state. .”
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By law, Republican Gov. Jim Justice is responsible for appointing a Republican to serve out the remainder of Hanna's term, which expires in December 2024. Hanna's local Republican executive committee plans to submit a list of candidates for the governor to choose from.
