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WHEELING -- Wheeling attorney Teresa Toriseva is now the first vice chair of the West Virginia Democratic Party.
State Democrats met Saturday in Charleston at the Kanawha County Library for a special election to elect nominees to vacant seats on the West Virginia Democratic Party Executive Committee.
The first vice chair's position became open in April when the past office holder, former Delegate Danielle Walker of Monongalia County, resigned from both the Legislature and executive committee to become the next leader of the American Civil Liberties Union in West Virginia.
Toriseva explained the party's bylaws require that there is a sharing of power between men and women on the executive committee. The state party chair, Delegate Mike Pushkin, is male, so the first vice chair must be female, she explained.
In 2020, Toriseva waged her own campaign for the District 4 Delegate seat representing Ohio County, but ultimately lost to Republican Delegate Erikka Storch.
"I have been a candidate, and I learned a lot," Toriseva said. "Getting involved with the West Virginia Democratic Party is an opportunity to apply what I've learned in my race, and in other races I've been involved with in different roles."
Toriseva indicated that she enjoyed running for office. She said she learned much about her community and also picked up skills on how "to be more patient and tolerant."
But she doesn't expect to run again for office herself -- at least not right now.
"Not at this time, but I haven't closed the door," Toriseva continued. "Quite honestly, I'm having a lot of success and fun as a trial lawyer. I enjoy helping groups of employees who need help with certain issues -- like student nurses and first responders.
"For me, being a candidate is one way to be involved, but I'm interested in all the other ways too. That's what makes serving at the party level interesting."
Toriseva said she has always believed the Democratic Party to be the party of the working people, and that this corresponded with her own political philosophy.
"I was motivated to get involved at the state party level because I am alarmed by the extremism that we see in politics when we see a super-majority," she said. "I want to be a voice in the Northern Panhandle for the statewide cause."
If Democrats hope to get back on the winning track in West Virginia, they will have to get out and talk to the public and learn their concerns, according to Toriseva.
"I think we have to appeal to working people and families, and make people realize who we are and what we represent," she added. "I think a lot of our message has been corrupted.
"The Democrats are the party of women, the party of working people, and frankly, the party of trial lawyers -- of which I am one. They're the party of people, and we have to speak to people to understand and respond to their needs."
Toriseva continued that West Virginians "are practical and fiercely independent" when it comes to politics, and that Democrats have to respond to that.
"Fundamentally, candidates and parties have to understand constituents, and care for them," she added.
Pushkin said Toriseva "has a great story."
"She worked her way up to running one of the top law firms in the state," he explained. "In her work, she has always been a tireless champion for working people.
"We feel that selecting her as the vice chair of the Democratic Party is the natural progression and a way for her to expand her work for the men and women of West Virginia."
Both he and Toriseva promised the Democrats will have a candidate for every contested race on the 2024 ballot.
"We're early in the game," Pushkin continued. "People are seeing the Republicans come out early because they are likely to have costly and contentious primaries.
"Traditionally, we get announcements after Labor Day -- not before Memorial Day."
The West Virginia Democratic Party Executive Committee also elected two other Northern Panhandle women to vacant positions on Saturday.
Barbara Scott of Moundsville was elected to fill the District 2 Senate seat on the committee, while Marlene Midget of Wheeling was chosen for the U.S. House District 2 Diversity at-Large seat.