CHARLESTON — The leader of the 11-member Democratic caucus in the West Virginia House of Delegates is stepping down from the role, with sources expecting a switch to the Republican Party in the near future.

House Minority Leader Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, announced Wednesday he will step down from that position following the end of legislative interim meetings in Charleston next week.

“I have enjoyed working with Republican Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw to deliver common sense solutions for the people of West Virginia,” Skaff said in a statement. “In my role as Minority Leader, I worked with Speaker Hanshaw to focus on attracting businesses to our state and creating jobs here as we traveled the country to encourage companies and major corporations to Choose WV.”

In his statement, Skaff said he plans to spend more time running his businesses and spending time with his children. Skaff is the president of HD Media, the owner of several newspapers including the Charleston Gazette-Mail. Skaff also owns and manages his family’s businesses, including a building materials supply company.

Skaff was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2008 and served two terms. He ran and won again in 2018 and is in his third consecutive term. The House Democratic Caucus chose Skaff as its minority leader twice after former House Minority Leader Tim Miley, D-Harrison, declined to seek re-election. Skaff served as minority leader in 2020 and again in 2022. Skaff will continue to serve in the House.

Multiple sources have said that Skaff intends to switch political parties from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party with a statewide office run in mind. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, Skaff remains a registered Democrat.

Speaking by phone Wednesday, Skaff said he has made no decisions, preferring to focus on next week’s legislative interim meetings and a possible special session that could be called.

“My first focus right now is a special session and interims coming up,” Skaff said. “We’ve got to get our house in order and a lot of things are going on. I want to take the next few weeks and focus on my businesses and personal life and decide what is next for Doug Skaff and decide how to best serve the people of West Virginia.”

Lawmakers have been working towards a special session coinciding with August legislative interim meetings beginning Sunday through Tuesday to develop a comprehensive plan to address the state’s shortage of correctional officers and staff, as well as to fix a technical issue with the state’s new vehicle tangible personal property tax rebate. Gov. Jim Justice has yet to issue a proclamation calling the Legislature into special session, and said last week it was too premature to say whether there would be a special session yet.

Skaff and the House Democratic Caucus wrote a letter July 18 to Justice urging him to call a special session to address the correctional crisis, budget shortfalls at state colleges and universities, and the overburdened foster care system where some children are put up in hotels and 4-H camps. The state ended the fiscal year in June with more than $1.8 billion, with more than $451 million available for supplemental appropriations.

“I do think there will be a special session called,” Skaff said Wednesday. “We have to fix the property tax on vehicles and the unintended consequences. I hope we quit kicking the can down the road when it comes to our correctional crisis, as well as doing something with foster care so we don’t have kids sleeping on hotel floors. And we need to look at higher education institutions so that we don’t have the same issue as what happened at Alderson Broaddus.”

West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman and Del. Mike Pushkin, D-Kanawha, said Skaff has informed the caucus of his intentions to step aside.

“I appreciate the fact that Doug spoke with us about this decision prior to making a public announcement,” Pushkin said. “By doing that, he allows us the time to make a smooth transition to a new minority leader to take his place.”

House Minority Leader Pro Tempore Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, will serve as interim minority leader until the House Democratic Caucus can select a new leader.

“Sean is a strong leader, delegate and friend. I know that he will lead the caucus well,” Skaff said in his statement.

“I’d echo his words of support for the abilities of other members of our caucus to take over this role, particularly his kind expression of support for Minority Leader Pro Tempore Sean Hornbuckle,” Pushkin said.

“Delegate Skaff is a friend and I thank him for his time as minority leader,” said House Minority Whip Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, by text message. “I welcome Sean Hornbuckle into that role and look forward to working with him in providing vocal, attentive leadership going forward.”

“Sean’s acumen, character, and work ethic are superb,” said state Senate Minority Leader Mike Woelfel, D-Cabell, in a statement. “He is bold in action but also pragmatic. His service on behalf of the citizens of Cabell County absolutely merits his elevation to this leadership position. I look forward to our continued partnership as colleagues and now as party leaders in the statehouse.

“I thank Delegate Doug Skaff for his service to his constituents and his party,” Woelfel continued. “I have been honored to serve in minority leadership in the Senate and work with Delegate Skaff during his tenure as Minority Leader. We have been aligned on important legislation and united in opposition to the far-right extremism coming from some of our colleagues across the aisle. I commend Delegate Skaff for his forward thinking in allowing fresh talent to step into the role.”

If Skaff does switch parties, that would take the Democratic minority in the House from 11 to 10 out of 100 seats. Del. Elliott Pritt, R-Fayette, switched from the Democratic Party earlier this year. Despite these defections, Fluharty hopes the public can see some of the issues that have occurred in the state since Republicans began taking the supermajority.

“The supermajority has our state in chaos: state correctional facilities are in a staffing crisis, higher education is underfunded while campuses are closing, and we have a border crisis where young West Virginians are choosing to leave the state in record numbers,” Fluharty said. “The average West Virginian has been forgotten by the supermajority, it’s time we remind them which party actually fights for them and cares about their future.”