WEIRTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Delegate Mark Zatezalo has announced that he will be running for the West Virginia State Senate in 2024.
Del. Zatezalo (R-Hancock) made the official announcement in Weirton on Wednesday.
Joining Zatezalo at the announcement event was State Senator Ryan Weld (R-Brooke) who currently holds the Senate seat Zatezalo is seeking.
Weld has decided to run for attorney general in 2024 instead of seeking another term representing the 1st District in the Senate. The 1st District consists of Brooke, Hancock, Marshall (part), and Ohio Counties.
Weld threw his support behind Zatezalo at Wednesday’s announcement.
“Leaving the Senate in order to run for Attorney General was a difficult decision, but I know the future of this district will be in good hands with Delegate Mark Zatezalo,” Weld said.
Del. Zatezalo currently represents Brooke and Hancock Counties in the 2nd House District.
Both Zatezalo and Weld were elected to the legislature in 2014 when Republicans took back control of both chambers for the first time in decades.
Sen. Weld says that he is confident in Zatezalo representing the 1st District in the Senate.
“Mark has remained a very steadfast proponent of Weirton and the area since [elected],” Weld said. “Mark deeply cares about this area, he was born and raised here, he works here, both of his daughters live here, all of his grandchildren live here.”
Zatezalo says he was conflicted on whether to make a run for the Senate, debating on how he could be the most efficient representative for his area.
“I was having a hard time trying to figure out what I should do, so what I did was I went to talk to the President of the Senate [Craig Blair] and the Speaker of the House [Roger Hanshaw],” Zatezalo said.
“I had an hour meeting with each one of them and they convinced me that would actually be the best way to be the most effective for the state of West Virginia and for the area.”
Zatezalo says he is ready to get to work and look toward 2024 and beyond.
“I’m really looking forward to the election, and if successful, I am absolutely looking forward to building the future of West Virginia and especially the future of the northern panhandle,” Zatezalo concluded.
