West Virginia Sen. Mark Hunt, speaking during a West Virginia Senate Judiciary meeting on Feb. 21, 2023, will be the state’s next auditor. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)
State Sen. Mark Hunt will be the state’s next auditor.
The Associated Press called the race for Hunt, a Republican representing Kanawha County, over Democrat opponent Mary Ann Claytor at 8:50 p.m. Tuesday. At the time, Hunt had 68% of the vote compared to Claytor’s 32%, with 49% of votes counted, according to unofficial results.
Hunt is a Charleston attorney. He was elected to the state Senate in 2022.
Claytor worked for 22 years in the state auditor’s office and is a “successful small business owner specializing in government accounting,” according to her campaign website.
Hunt previously served in the state House of Delegates for 10 years beginning in 1994, according to his law firm biography.
Hunt replaces J.B. McCuskey, who was elected state attorney general Tuesday.
According to the secretary of state’s office, Hunt raised $64,000 for the election cycle, more than twice Claytor’s $30,000.
In the May primary election, Hunt won the Republican nomination for state auditor, beating out House majority leader Eric Householder, R-Berkeley, former state Del. Caleb Hanna and former Jefferson County Commissioner Tricia Jackson.
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