John B. McCuskey (R) won the Republican primary for West Virginia Attorney General on May 14, 2024. McCuskey defeated Mike Stuart (R) 60.2% to 39.8%. Incumbent Patrick Morrisey (R) ran for governor, leaving the office open.

Both McCuskey and Stuart ran on their record in elected office. Both candidates said they would prioritize suing the federal government to overturn policies they said challenged West Virginia values. Both also said they would encourage other departments in the state government to obtain legal services from the attorney general’s office rather than private counsel.

McCuskey was, at the time of the primary, the state auditor and a former state legislator. McCuskey said he was “an experienced leader with a proven record of fighting for West Virginians and their conservative values,” saying he promoted transparency and streamlined the state’s property tax system as auditor. McCuskey said he would work with West Virginia University to recruit local law school graduates to work in the attorney general’s office and build “a coalition of in-state firms that are both conservative and like-minded as we are” to provide outside counsel to the state when necessary.

Stuart was, at the time of the primary, a state senator and former federal prosecutor. Stuart said he was a “proven conservative fighter for West Virginia.” Stuart said his record included serving as a U.S. Attorney under President Donald Trump (R) and winning election to a state senate district with a history of electing Democrats. Stuart said he would advocate for a change in state law to allow the attorney general’s office, rather than county prosecutors, to prosecute specific crimes. Stuart said he wanted “a full-service, serious law firm as the attorney general of the State of West Virginia.”

As of 2024, no Democrat had won a statewide election in West Virginia since 2018. Incumbent Patrick Morrisey (R) won re-election 64%–36% in 2020.

Ten states are holding elections for attorney general in 2024. As of February 2024, there were 27 Republican attorneys general, 22 Democratic attorneys general, and one independent attorney general.