MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Three Republicans, Debbie Warner, Drew Talbot and Cindy Frich are running for the party’s nomination in the newly created 82nd District.
Drew Talbott, who will turn 21 tomorrow, is the youngest of the candidates. He hopes to bring a new perspective to Charleston. He’s been working on political campaigns since he was just 16 years-old.
“I think that parents need to have a bigger say in what their kids are being taught,” said Talbott on one of his issues to address if he’s elected. “Recently, we saw the Critical Race Theory stuff, Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, parents need to have a say in what their kids are being taught,” he said.
Debbie Warner is a realtor in Monongalia County and the wife of West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner. She has received endorsements from local groups such as the Monongalia County Chamber of Commerce as well as Governor Jim Justice.
“A friendly business climate and education, that and infrastructure, are the foundations for the future success of West Virginia and for generations to come,” said Warner on what she hopes to tackle in Charleston.
Former West Virginia Delegate Cindy Frich is the third candidate on the list. It is her fourth time on a Republican ballot. She served as a member of the House of Delegates for two separate terms with her first taking place from 2002 until 2006 and her second from 2012 to 2018. Frich did not respond to interview requests by WAJR.
While all three candidates share similar views on many of the major issues, one candidate has had significantly more support throughout the primary election.
Debbie Warner has had the most financial backing in the race. According to the most recent campaign finance report, Warner has raised over 26-thousand dollars and spent more than 92-hundred on the campaign. Talbott has raised just 50 dollars and Frich has not reported any contributions or expenditures.
Democrat Kate Fallon is running unopposed in the primary election.