For Immediate Release        

January 16, 2024

Wheeling, West Virginia – Today, Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott officially announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for United States Senate in the 2024 election for the seat currently held by Senator Joe Manchin.

Mayor Elliott said “I’m running for the United States Senate because I have both the experience and temperament to cut through the stalemate in Washington to find common-sense solutions to our nation’s most pressing challenges.  As mayor in a city fighting its way back to prominence, I have seen firsthand the value of having a clear vision, rolling up one’s sleeves, and bringing people together to get things done.  Mayors are doers on the front lines in their communities.  And successful mayors put people and actions over politics.  My record of success in Wheeling speaks for itself, and I look forward to bringing this common-sense approach to the U.S. Senate for West Virginia.”

Born and raised in Wheeling, Glenn is a 7^th generation West Virginian with deep roots in the community.  In 1994 he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School with a Bachelor of Science in Economics degree.  Upon graduation, he became a Legislative Assistant for the legendary U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd.  After five invaluable years working for the Senator, Glenn enrolled in Georgetown University Law Center, from which he graduated cum laude in 2001 with a Juris Doctorate degree.  He has also received honorary Doctorate degrees from Wheeling University and West Liberty University.

Glenn began his legal practice in Washington but in 2009 took the country roads home to Wheeling and established a solo law practice.  In 2013, he acquired the Professional Building—an iconic 1892 building in the heart of downtown that was in dire need of restoration.  The next year, his preservation efforts earned him recognition from Wheeling City Council.  Today, this once-vacant structure now houses two Ohio County law firms, with Glenn, his wife Cassandra, and their son Harrison residing on its 2^nd floor.

In 2016, Glenn was elected to the first of his two terms as Mayor of Wheeling.  Under his leadership, the city has emphasized economic development initiatives aimed at downtown revitalization, diversifying the local economy and improving its quality of life.  During his tenure as Mayor unemployment has fallen in the Wheeling area from 6.6% in 2016 to 3.8% at the end of 2023.

One of Mayor Elliott’s key accomplishments has been his collaboration with the West Virginia Division of Highways and the U.S. Department of Transportation on a $33 million project to replace the entire streetscape on Main and Market Streets in downtown Wheeling.  This once-in-a-generation project to transform the look and feel of Wheeling’s central business district is well underway and expected to be completed in the spring of 2025.  Mayor Elliott has also made significant strides in enhancing the city’s quality of life by prioritizing the restoration of more than two dozen neighborhood parks and playgrounds.  All but a few of these park and playground updates have already been completed—with plans in place to replace those remaining installations by the end of 2024.

During his tenure, Wheeling City Council fulfilled its commitment to provide new public safety facilities for the city’s first responders.  In 2023, the Wheeling Police Department moved into a state-of-the-art headquarters—the first new home for the city’s law enforcement officers since 1958.  And construction is underway on a much-needed new headquarters for the Wheeling Fire Department that should be completed by the summer of 2024.

Under Mayor Elliott’s stewardship Wheeling has gained recognition as one of the fastest-growing economies in West Virginia and has earned accolades as one of the best small cities in America to start a business.  Bloomberg News has recognized the Wheeling metropolitan area as fifth in the nation for per capita personal income growth, and last year, Fortune Magazine recognized Wheeling as the 33rd Best City for Families in America.  For his efforts, the West Virginia Municipal League recognized Mayor Elliott as the “Mayor of the Year” in 2022 and as the recipient of the “James Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2023.

Mayor Elliott said, “For far too long, our leading export has been our young people seeking opportunities elsewhere.  Too many West Virginia natives only come home on holidays and long weekends.  This mass exodus has left us with an aging population that continues to rank among the poorest and most unhealthy states in the nation.  And while some of our State’s leaders talk about the view from the top being breathtaking, the views from too many of our Main Streets, neighborhoods, and ‘hollers’ remain bleak.  I have seen firsthand in Wheeling what is possible when you challenge the status quo.  Across the state, we have abundant resources, resilient communities, and hard-working people.  As your Senator, I will never stop looking for opportunities to help every West Virginia community reach its full potential.”

“At the same time, we must leverage the influence of this historically significant Senate seat to protect programs like Social Security and Medicare that are critical to so many West Virginia seniors.  And we must work to restore women’s rights to make their own health care decisions and strive to expand childcare and early childhood education opportunities for our most vulnerable families.  If given the trust and honor to represent the people of West Virginia in the United States Senate, I can promise that nobody will work harder to usher in a new era of growth, investment, and opportunity for the people of the Mountain State.”

For media inquiries, please contact:  Ty Thorngate at ty@wheelhousecreativellc.com or (304) 312-1662.