Two Delegates, Two Parties: Holstein and Pushkin Selected to Lead West Virginia’s Major Political Organizations

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s two major political parties have completed their summer leadership elections, placing two members of the House of Delegates at the center of their statewide operations heading into the November general election.

The West Virginia Republican Party unanimously reelected Delegate Josh Holstein as chairman during an Aug. 1 meeting of its State Executive Committee. The vote gave Holstein a four year term after he spent the previous year completing the term of former chairman Matt Herridge.

Less than two months earlier, the West Virginia Democratic Party reelected Delegate Mike Pushkin during its regular organizational meeting. Pushkin defeated former party vice chair Teresa Toriseva by a 43 to 32 vote on June 6, securing another four year term after leading the organization since 2022.

The two elections create a noteworthy parallel in West Virginia politics. Both major state party organizations are now led by sitting members of the House of Delegates.

That gives each chairman a dual role. Holstein and Pushkin will continue voting on legislation and representing their respective districts while also overseeing candidate recruitment, fundraising, county organizations and statewide messaging for their parties.

Beyond that shared responsibility, the two chairmen come from significantly different generations, professional backgrounds and political circumstances.

Holstein, 24, represents House District 32 in Boone County. A graduate of Sherman High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Marshall University and lists his occupation as politics and government. He was first elected to the House in 2020 and currently serves as vice chairman of the House Legal Services Committee, along with assignments on the Judiciary, Energy and Public Works, and Environment, Infrastructure and Technology committees.

Pushkin, 56, represents House District 54 in Kanawha County. The Charleston native studied English and political science at West Virginia University and lists his occupation as a taxi driver and musician. First elected to the Legislature in 2014, Pushkin currently serves as minority chairman of the House Health and Human Resources Committee.

Their political assignments are also very different.

Holstein leads a Republican Party that holds commanding majorities in the Legislature and has overtaken Democrats in statewide voter registration. His challenge will be protecting those gains, maintaining unity within a large coalition and helping Republican candidates continue the party’s dominance in state and local elections.

Pushkin leads a Democratic Party attempting to rebuild after losing much of the political power it held in West Virginia for generations. During his reelection campaign, Pushkin emphasized strengthening county organizations, recruiting candidates and making the party competitive in more communities. Democrats have also highlighted their efforts to recruit more candidates for the 2026 election cycle.

The manner in which the two chairmen were reelected also reflected those different political environments.

Holstein and the Republican leadership team were elected unanimously. Tony Hodge was selected as cochairman, Kelli Sobonya as secretary and Michele Davis was reelected treasurer.

Pushkin emerged from a contested Democratic election in which fundraising, organization and the party’s path forward were openly debated. Democrats also elected Pam Tucker Cline as first vice chair, Wellsburg Mayor Daniel Dudley as second vice chair, Jenny Craig as secretary and Danielle Stewart as treasurer.

Despite their considerable differences, both parties have ultimately turned to legislators who are already involved in the daily work of state government.

With the general election approaching, Holstein and Pushkin will now move between two political arenas, shaping laws inside the State Capitol while working outside it to elect the candidates who will determine the Legislature’s future membership.