Former Delegate David Elliott Pritt has voluntarily withdrawn his candidacy for the Nov. 3 general election, West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner announced in a news release °Õ³Ü±ð²õ»å²¹²â.Ìý
This is a July 22, 2026, contributed photo of Delegate Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette.
CARTER COUNTY DETENTION CENTER | Courtesy photo
Pritt, 36, who represented Fayette County in the House of Delegates, resigned from the House on July 27, the same day he waived a federal preliminary hearing and detention hearing for one charge of using a means of interstate commerce — in this case, the internet — to entice or coerce a girl to produce child pornography and to engage in conduct that violated a state third-degree sexual assault law.
The criminal complaint said Pritt later asked the girl to meet him in his classroom at Oak Hill High School to engage in sexual activity, which allegedly occurred on five to 10 occasions.
Candidates in a general election are allowed to withdraw by filing a notarized statement of withdrawal with the Secretary of State's Office no later than the close of business on Aug. 11.ÌýHouse Bill 4350, passed by Republican-controlled legislature in 2024, prevents a political party from filling any vacancy on the general election ballot created by a withdrawal of their party's candidate.
On Saturday, the state Republican Executive Committee voted unanimously to formally disavow Pritt as a Republican candidate and representative of the party. The motion was introduced by GOP Co-Chairman Tony Hodge, who said this was the first time in history the committee voted to disavow a candidate.Ìý
Josh Holstein, GOP Chair, could not be reached for comment.Ìý
The West Virginia State Election Commission was scheduled to meet on Friday to consider Pritt's eligibility on the general election ballot, but that is no longer on the agenda due to his withdrawal. The meeting will address other election-related business, according to the Secretary of State news release.Ìý
Mathew Anderson is the Democratic candidate for the House of Delegates for Fayette County. Anderson, 37, a special education teacher at Divide Elementary School in Lookout, says nothing will change about his campaign approach.Ìý
"We're just doing exactly what we've been doing over the last year, which is serving the people of West Virginia's 50th district," Anderson said. "Knocking on doors, going to community events and just listening to what the people have to say."
