CHARLESTON, WV (WOAY) – State Senator Vince Deeds has filed an emergency petition with the Kanawha County Circuit Court, asking the court to find Robert Shirley Love constitutionally ineligible to run and remove him from the ballot.
Love was running against Deeds in the Republican primary for the tenth senatorial district.
In the petition, deeds asked that Love’s certification be withdraw and his name removed from the ballot. It also asks the court to mandate election officials to not count any vote cast for Love, and requests notices be posted at Election sites to notify voters.
The filing alleges that Love has not fulfilled the required five years of residency before holding office in the state Senate. The filing cites Georgia voter records, which indicate Love voted in Georgia’s December 2022 election. It also refers to social media posts made by Love and other people.
The West Virginia Constitution requires state senators to live in West Virginia for five years before the general election.
State Senate District 10 encompasses Fayette, Greenbrier, Monroe and Summers counties.
Love posted a video on social media, saying he is suspending his campaign following the filing.
Deeds is still facing a primary challenge from Jonathan Comer. Love says he is still running for Fayette County Republican Executive Committee.
