West Virginia
Asian American and Latino voters prized in an excruciatingly tight presidential campaign • West Virginia Watch
DURHAM, N.C. — As a weekend morning in late September dips into the afternoon, Annar Parikh finally gets an eligible voter to answer the door.
After Parikh gives a rundown of some of the local candidates in North Carolina’s election, she asks the woman if she plans to vote in the presidential election.
“It’s personal,” the woman says before closing the door.
The 26-year-old marks the house in a voter database for North Carolina Asian Americans Together, a nonpartisan organization that focuses on voter registration in the Asian American community.
“This is typical for our community,” Parikh, a field manager for NCAAT, says while peeling a clementine, recounting how difficult it can be sometimes to reach voters in the swing state.
There are more than 360,000 Asian Americans in North Carolina. Indian Americans are the fastest growing ethnic group in the state, with a population of nearly 110,000.
The voters Parikh is trying to reach are prized by the presidential campaigns. In an election that is virtually a dead heat, Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is working to tap into the two of the fastest-growing voting blocs in the United States — Asian Americans and Latinos, especially in the seven swing states.
Asian Americans have gotten relatively little attention in the presidential campaign and Harris herself has not greatly emphasized her South Asian background — her mother was an Indian immigrant and Harris if elected would be the first president of South Asian descent.
“My challenge is the challenge of making sure I can talk with and listen to as many voters as possible and earn their vote, and I will never assume that anyone in our country should elect a leader based on their gender or their race,” Harris said in a Monday night interview with NBC News, when asked if sexism is a factor in the race.
While Republican nominee Donald Trump has held events with Latino voters, one of his first big appeals to Asian American voters will be Thursday in a Turning Point PAC event with former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii in Nevada.
Targeting communities
Also Thursday, the Democratic National Committee launched a voting media campaign across the country to engage with Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. The campaign will provide information about polling locations and multilingual advertisements in Florida, Texas and New York.
About 15 million Asian Americans are eligible to vote in this presidential election, a 15% increase in eligible voters from 2020, according to the Pew Research Center.
An estimated 36.2 million Latinos are eligible to vote this year, a 12% increase in eligible voters from 2020, according to the Pew Research Center.
The Harris campaign has launched targeted ads for Asian American voters in the battleground states of Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin that focus on her economic proposals.
The campaign also released an ad specific to the battleground state of Nevada featuring Asian American small business owners. Nevada is a swing state with one of the largest shares of the Asian American population in the country, at 11%. President Joe Biden won the state in 2020 with a little over 33,000 votes.
The Harris campaign has also launched a WhatsApp outreach effort in the Latino community and on Tuesday unveiled an “opportunity agenda for Latino men.”
Grassroot campaigns reflecting Asian American voting blocs have also emerged on behalf of Harris, such as South Asians for Harris, Chinese Americans for Harris, Korean Americans for Harris, Latinas for Harris and Latino Men for Harris.
Getting voters to the polls
On-the-ground efforts like voter registration and voter mobilization can be a huge effort in a tight presidential race.
“The cause of the low rate of voter registration is the same cause of the low level of information around voting, so we want to make sure we’re not just registering people, we’re also talking to them about how the process of voting works, where they can vote, how they can vote early,” said Jack Golub, the North Carolina community engagement program manager for the Hispanic Federation, a group that does civic engagement in the Latino community.
Nationally, the voting registration gap for Latinos — the difference between those eligible to vote who have registered and those who have not registered — is about 13.2 million, which is based on the most recent data from 2022 from UNIDOS, a Latino advocacy organization.
The Trump campaign has largely focused on trying to make inroads with Latino voters through roundtable discussions with leaders as well as a town hall hosted by Univision for undecided Latino voters. Separately, Harris also took part in a Univision town hall with undecided Latino voters.
A Monday poll showed that Harris continues to outperform Trump among Latino voters in the battlegrounds of Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
When it comes to Asian American voters and Trump, his rhetoric during his first term around the coronavirus and linking it to China could have fueled anti-Asian sentiment among Trump voters, a study shows.
But Steven Cheung, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, said in a statement to States Newsroom that the former president is an advocate for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and has “created an environment where diversity, equal opportunity, and prosperity were afforded to everybody.”
“Anyone who says otherwise is disgustingly using the AAPI community to play political games for their own benefit,” Cheung said. “The 2024 campaign is poised to build upon the strength and successes of Asian Americans during President Trump’s first term to propel him to a … second term victory.”
It comes down to policy
With Harris at the top of the Democratic presidential ticket after Biden’s withdrawal last summer, more Asian American voters are planning to support her compared to when Biden was in the race, according to a comprehensive survey by AAPIVote and AAPI Data.
The late September survey also said 66% of Asian American voters said they plan on voting for Harris, compared to 28% of Asian American voters who said they would vote for Trump. About 6% were undecided.
Chintan Patel, the executive director of Indian American Impact, said that while he has noticed an enthusiasm for Harris leading the presidential ticket, it still comes down to policy, specifically the economy, for the South Asian community.
“Yes, the community is excited about the opportunity to elect a South Asian president, there’s no question, but we’re also looking for, what are her plans?” he said.
His organization focuses on electing Indian Americans and has backed Harris.
“One of the things that I think is really resonating with the community is her plans around the economy, creating an opportunity economy, particularly helping small businesses,” Patel said. “Small businesses have been such a vital, important part of mobility for South Asian Americans, particularly the immigrant story, the first generation story, that is how we have seen mobility.”
Harris often talks of her late mother’s roots. But that seems to have little sway in some parts of North Carolina’s South Asian community — a surprise to Eva Eapen, an 18-year-old canvasser for NCAAT.
Eapen, a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said she expected to see more excitement in the South Asian community when Harris picked up the torch for Democrats as the presidential nominee.
“I don’t know if it’s lack of engagement. I don’t know if it’s lack of information. I don’t know if it’s lack of mobilization, but they don’t really care,” she said. “Maybe it’s more policy over nationality as Hindi?”
Several South Asian voters who States Newsroom spoke with in North Carolina made similar remarks. The fact that the Democratic presidential nominee was South Asian didn’t guarantee their vote and they instead expressed concern over the cost of living and the economy.
Ikamjit Gill, 28, said the biggest issues getting him to the polls are inflation and the economy.
“It’s not a big thing for me,” Gill said of Harris’ background.
Gill said he’s a registered Democrat and voted for Biden in 2020, but this year he’s considering voting for Trump. He said he was laid off from his tech job under the Biden administration and got his first job under the Trump administration.
“I’ve been out of a job for a while,” he said. “I just want some change.”
Vishal Ohir, 47, of Wake County, North Carolina, said he was initially leaning toward voting for Trump, but was impressed by Harris during the presidential debate in September. He liked her detailed plans around housing and the economy.
Ohir said he’s still undecided but in the end, he wants a presidential candidate who can tackle the cost of living because “everything has gone up.”
Arvind Balaraman, 53, of Wake County, North Carolina, said he’s frustrated that wages have not kept up with the cost of living. He said he’s not particularly excited there’s a South Asian candidate running for president. He just wants his grocery bill lowered.
“Everything has doubled, tripled,” he said of prices. “You had two different parties in the last two terms and the prices are still going up.”
Balaraman said he’s undecided, but still plans to vote in the presidential election.
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The West Virginia Mountaineers (4-4, 3-2) are on the road to take on the Cincinnati Bearcats (5-3, 3-2) Saturday afternoon. Kickoff is set for Noon EST, and the action will broadcast on FS1.
West Virginia vs. Cincinnati Series History
West Virginia leads 17-3-1
When: Saturday, November, 9
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. EST
TV: FS1
Announcers: Chris Myers (PBP), Robert Smith (analyst)
Radio: Tony Caridi (PBP), Dwight Wallace (analyst), Jed Drenning (sideline) Mountaineer Sports Network from Learfield IMG College (Radio affiliates)
WVU Game Notes
– The 2024 season marks West Virginia’s 132nd season of football. The Mountaineers are tied with Texas A&M as the 15th winningest program in college football.
– The 2024 year marks the 45th season of competition for West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium. WVU has a 199-79-4 (.713) all-time mark at the facility, which opened in 1980.
– WVU is 11-6-1 in games played on Nov. 9, including 6-3 on the road. The last time WVU played on that date was in 2019 against Texas Tech (L 38-17).
– Since 2002, the Mountaineers are 102-15 when winning the turnover battle.
– West Virginia has reached 100 yards on the ground 42 times in the Neal Brown era.
– Overall, the Mountaineers are 31-11 in the Neal Brown era when rushing for at least 100 yards.
– West Virginia has surpassed at least 140 rushing yards in 23 of the last 24 games, dating back to 2022.
– The Mountaineers are ranked No. 5 nationally for fewest penalty yards per game and No. 12 in fewest penalties per game.
– WVU’s offense is ranked No. 29 nationally for most possession time in 2024 (31.36).
– West Virginia’s rushing attack is ranked No. 23 nationally in most yards per game (202.3).
– The Mountaineers are tied for No. 2 nationally in fourth downs converted (17) in FBS football in 2024. Three of WVU’s touchdowns at Arizona came on fourth down.
– WVU’s defense also has recorded multiple sacks in 10 of the last 13 games.
– The Mountaineer defense has recorded at least four tackles for loss in 26 of the last 29 games.
– West Virginia has held 16 of its last 20 opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing.
– The Mountaineer rushing defense is ranked No. 39 nationally, holding its opponents to 121.5 yards per game. WVU has held its opponents to 130 yards rushing or fewer in six of eight games.
– WVU is ranked No. 25 in punt return defense (4.4), No. 26 nationally in kickoff return defense (16.96) and No. 39 in net punting (40.8).
– Jahiem White has 32 missed tackles forced to lead WVU, CJ Donaldson Jr. has 23 and Garrett Greene has 21.
– White is ranked No. 44 nationally for rushing yards per carry (5.8).
– Greene is ranked No. 20 nationally for passing yards per completion (13.66), No. 26 nationally for rushing yards per carry (6.2) and No. 42 nationally for most total offense yards per game (260.4).
– According to PFF College, Wyatt Milum is ranked as the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation, grading out at 92.1%. His 90.1 run-blocking grade is No. 2 and his pass-blocking grade is No. 5. He has played 193 snaps and has not allowed a pressure, a sack or a quarterback hit.
– TJ Jackson II is ranked No. 11 nationally and No. 1 in the Big 12 for most tackles for loss per game (1.4).
– Jackson is ranked No. 4 in the Big 12 for most sacks per game (0.56).
– Michael Hayes II is ranked No. 18 nationally for field goal percentage (.900).
West Virginia
Gov. Justice Appoints His Wife, First Lady Cathy Justice, to West Virginia Board of Education
photo by: Steven Allen Adams
First Lady Cathy Justice, Gov. Jim Justice, and Babydog celebrate Tuesday night at the Greenbrier Resort following Gov. Justice’s U.S. Senate victory.
CHARLESTON — Saying she was “covered up in qualifications,” Gov. Jim Justice announced Thursday that he had appointed his wife, first lady Cathy Justice, to the West Virginia Board of Education.
“I had to do a whole lot of selling and talking to Cathy about this,” Justice said Thursday during his weekly administration briefing from the State Capitol Building. “I’m honored to announce the appointment of our first lady, Cathy Justice, to the West Virginia Board of Education. She will do an amazing job. Really and truly, Cathy loves kids beyond good sense.”
Cathy Justice is a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Raleigh County in 1970, where she met Gov. Justice. Both went to Marshall University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. She also worked as a substitute teacher in the Raleigh County School system.
As first lady, Cathy Justice has become the face of the Communities in Schools program, which works to connect at-risk students and their families to resources, such as academic assistance and tutoring; basic needs, such as clothing and food; behavior intervention and modification; career preparation; community service, crisis intervention, life skills, mental health services, and more.
According to the state Department of Education, Communities in Schools was first introduced in Greenbrier County in 2004, but the program began expansion in 2018 during Justice’s two four-year terms as governor. Now, the program serves all 55 counties, with 298 site coordinators between 285 schools, benefiting more than 117,000 students. Through Communities in Schools, Cathy Justice has also placed 42 therapy dogs in schools.
“They work that they’ve done with Communities in Schools in all 55 of our counties and all the good stuff that Cathy has done, it’s amazing,” Justice said. “She has surely earned her stripes as far as the good stuff she is doing for kids. I’m really proud. In the beginning, I couldn’t get Cathy across the finish line on this, but I think she will do an amazing job. She’s fired up now and ready to go and to do the job.”
Cathy Justice will succeed Dr. Daniel Snively, whose term expired on Monday. Snively, the director of the Heart Center at Huntington Internal Medicine Group, was appointed by Gov. Justice in 2019 to fill the remaining term of Elkins attorney Joseph Wallace, whom the governor appointed in 2017.
This is not the first time a governor has appointed their spouse to the state Board of Education. Then-governor Joe Manchin appointed first lady Gayle Manchin to the state board in 2007. She continued to serve after Manchin won election to the U.S. Senate in 2010 and 2012, serving twice in the rotating position of state board president before resigning in 2015.
Now the co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, Gayle Manchin has education bachelor’s and master’s degrees from West Virginia University and Salem International University. She taught school in Marion County and was on the faculty of Fairmont State University.
Nine of the 11 members of the state Board of Education are appointed by the governor. Appointed members serve overlapping nine-year terms and no more than five of the appointed members can belong to the same political party.
Addressing questions about her qualifications and whether the appointment represented nepotism, Justice said First Lady Justice was more than qualified. Gov. Justice – who is wrapping up the final two months of his second and final four-year term — won election to the U.S. Senate Tuesday night.
“How could you possibly think that Cathy is not just covered up in qualifications,” Justice said. “The job she has done is off the chart. She’s very, very qualified. She has a secondary (education) degree from Marshall University. There is no way I could find someone no matter where they are who is more qualified than Cathy Justice for this job. I think she will do great.”
West Virginia
Gov. Jim Justice appoints First Lady Cathy Justice to 9-year term on state school board • West Virginia Watch
First Lady Cathy Justice will likely soon join the state school board following an appointment this week from her husband, Gov. Jim Justice.
Cathy Justice’s appointment will still need to be confirmed by the state Senate. If approved, she will serve a nine-year term as she fills the seat recently vacated by Dr. Daniel Snavely, whose term expired this month.
Jim Justice announced his wife’s appointment during his weekly news briefing on Thursday. The story was first reported by The Real WV, a Greenbrier County-based news site, on Wednesday.
During Thursday’s briefing, the governor said Cathy Justice once worked as a substitute teacher in Raleigh County “a long, long, long time ago.” He said it took some convincing for her to accept his appointment to the state school board.
“In the beginning, I couldn’t get Cathy across the finish line on this, but I think she’ll do an amazing job and so she’s fired up now and ready to go and do the job,” Jim Justice said.
Charleston Gazette-Mail reporter Sierra Marling asked the governor during his briefing what he would say to any “inevitable accusations of nepotism” regarding him appointing his wife to the state school board.
Jim Justice said he had trouble hearing the question and C.J. Harvey, his director of communications, said there may have been technical difficulties.
The governor then, however, did seem to offer a response.
“All I can say is Cathy is super qualified. And for crying out loud, you know, there’s no point in beating up Cathy. She’s given everything she could possibly give,” Jim Justice said. “Like I said, I had to really, really work hard to talk her into this.”
Cathy Justice is a lifelong West Virginia resident and a 1975 graduate of Marshall University, where she studied secondary education. Professionally, she previously served as the president of Comer Electric, Inc., a company founded by her parents, according to her official biography.
“I am honored to take on this role and to continue working to support our wonderful students, teachers, and families,” Cathy Justice said in a Thursday news release. “Every child in West Virginia deserves a safe, welcoming environment where they can thrive. I look forward to contributing to the Board and helping our education system grow stronger for everyone.”
The first lady currently serves as the president of the state advisory council for Communities In Schools, a national nonprofit program focused on drop-out prevention that provides students in schools with resources they need to be successful. Through Communities In Schools, Cathy Justice helps head the Friends With Paws program, which has so far placed more than 40 therapy dogs in schools throughout the state.
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