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W.Va. Secretary of State Mac Warner Launches 2024 Bid for Governor

By STEVEN ALLEN ADAMS 5 min read

CHARLESTON - West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner is the latest Republican to throw his hat in the ring for his party’s nomination for governor in 2024.

Warner announced his candidacy for governor of West Virginia on Tuesday afternoon in front of the West Virginia Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the State Capitol Complex. Coming from a family long known for its military service, Warner said he is ready to lead West Virginia.

“The time is right,” Warner said to a crowd of more than 150 of supporters, friends, and fellow military veterans. “You, this community, our state and our nation has prepared me for this moment. I have the skills to lead West Virginia to its best days ever.”

Warner is in the middle of his second four-year term as West Virginia’s 30th Secretary of State, serving as the state’s chief elections officer and the state registrar of businesses. Warner was first elected in 2017 after defeating former Democratic Secretary of State Natalie Tennant by just 1.7% of the vote. When Tennant challenged Warner again in 2020, Warner won with more than 16% of the vote.

Since taking office, Warner has focused on modernizing the office by moving most of its business services online. The office teamed up with the state Department of Labor, Workforce West Virginia, and the State Tax Department to create the One Stop Business Center plus created to regional Business Hubs for in-person assistance for business owners.

Warner has also focused on making it easier for state residents to vote and harder to cheat. The office has worked with county clerks to help them clean up voter registration rolls, removing deceased residents, duplicate registrations, those who have moved out-of-state, outdated files, and felons still serving their sentences. At the same time, Warner’s voter registration efforts have grown the voter rolls, including getting eligible teenagers registered.

“This is what I mean when I say experience matters,” Warner said.

The office has helped counties modernize their voting machines through federal grants. A new system allows military voters, overseas residents, and residents with disabilities an electronic option to vote. Warner has worked with federal partners and the West Virginia National Guard to improve cybersecurity to discourage bad actors and foreign powers from interfering in state elections. And the office has prosecuted several instances of voter fraud.

Prior to being Secretary of State, Warner was also an unsuccessful Republican candidate for the former 1st Congressional District in 2010, losing to former Rep. David McKinley.

Warner served 23 years as a U.S. Army officer, retiring as a lieutenant colonel. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and the West Virginia University College of Law. He served most of his military service in the Army’ Judge Advocate General Corps, a career that took him from capturing alleged war criminals for the International Court of Justice at the Hague to Chief of International Law for the U.S. Army in Europe.

Upon retirement, Warner worked for five years as a contractor with the U.S. State Department in Afghanistan. As Chief of the Organizational Capacity Building Section, Warner helped advise the Afghan government as it tried to organize following the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Warner and his team worked with helping organize Afghan Supreme Court, Attorney General’s office, Ministry of Justice, and Ministry of Women’s Affairs.

“That’s what I refer to when I say I am battle-tested,” Warner said. “My military experience tells me that leadership is deeds, not words. Leadership is not inherited or bought. Leadership is earned being on the frontlines, facing challenges, making tough decisions, and producing positive results … my leadership is molded from the most powerful institution and the best team in the world, and that is the United States military.”

Warner’s family has a history of both military and public services. A brother, Monty Warner, is a retired U.S. Army colonel and former Republican candidate for governor in 2004, losing to two-term Democratic governor and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin. Another brother, Kris Warner, is executive director of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority and a former chairman of the state Republican Party.

Warner’s late brother, George “Buffy” Warner, was a state senator from Monongalia County; and his late father, George “Brud” Warner, was a former member of the House of Delegates.

In 2022, Warner’s wife, Debbie Law Warner, won a seat to the House of Delegates as a Republican, The Warners have four children who all went on to have careers in the U.S. Army, some of whom returned to civilian life.

Warner is the third publicly announced candidate for governor. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Moore Capito, R-Kanawha, announced a run for governor in December. Capito is the son of U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and the grandson of the late Republican three-term Governor Arch Moore. Automobile dealership owner Chris Miller - the son of 2nd District Congresswoman Carol Miller, R-W.Va. - announced a run for governor in 2021.

Other Republican candidates are likely to announce over the next 12 months before the opening of the candidate filing period in January 2024, including State Auditor J.B. McCuskey. Three other Republican candidates have filed precandidacy paperwork, including Terri Bradshaw and Rashida Yost.

“Leadership, dedication to duty, and service above self is what separates me from other candidates who may be in this race,” Warner said. “Serious times do require serious leaders … and I can tell you there is no one more serious about taking West Virginia into the future than Mac Warner.”

Starting at /week.