WVDP Calls for Clagett to Withdraw and for a Clear Public Response from Republican Leadership

For Immediate Release September 22, 2026

West Virginia Democratic Party Calls for Clagett to Withdraw and for a Clear Public Response from Republican Leadership

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Democratic Party is calling for Republican leadership to disavow the disgusting, racist comments made by House of Delegates District 91 candidate Chris Clagett and for Clagett to withdraw from the race because he is unfit to serve the people of his district.  

West Virginia Watch reported that Clagett wrote on X in January that Black women are “the most ill-mannered, ill-behaved, loud-mouthed demographics on the face of the Earth.” Clagett’s social media posts likewise refer to African Americans as “savages” and to Black women as “sheboons.” West Virginia Watch

WVDP Chair Mike Pushkin said the comments warrant a direct response from House Speaker Roger Hanshaw and West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Josh Holstein.

“These statements are abhorrent and should receive universal condemnation. I am calling on Speaker Hanshaw and Chairman Holstein to say clearly and publicly whether they repudiate Clagett for his racist, divisive language. West Virginians deserve to know where their leaders stand when statements like these are made by someone seeking public office.”

House Minority Leader Sean Hornbuckle said: “I appreciate free speech and all that comes with it, but there is also a thing called hate speech, which I’ve never condoned from anyone. Hate speech leads to actions of hate that can’t be tolerated by people charged with governing and creating the laws by which we live.”

Clagett is running as the Republican candidate in House District 91 against Democrat David Michaels. West Virginia Watch

###