West Virginia Delegate Pat McGeehan has introduced HB 2169. It eases the definition of “political party.” Current law says it is a group that polled 1% for Governor. The bill changes that to any statewide state office.
Also, the bill says a qualified party is also one that has at least 5,000 registered voters. Currently the Libertarian and Green Parties are on the ballot, because they both polled at least 1% for Governor in 2016 (West Virginia gubernatorial elections are only in presidential years). In West Virginia, the name of the Green Party is the Mountain Party. Thanks to Jeff Becker for this news.
Current WV voter registration totals have Libertarians in the state at 6645. So, with this bill, they would be able to maintain their qualification status without the need to run any candidates for state constitutional office. Also, the Mountain Party is currently at 2220, so about halfway there. I would guess that passage of this bill would generate some momentum for them to work on their voter registration drives. https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/VoterRegistrationTotals/2018/Dec2018.pdf
The text of the bill can be read at http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2019_sessions/RS/bills/hb2169%20intr.htm
And here is the stripped-down version of this bill introduced by a different delegate: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2456%20intr.htm&yr=2019&sesstype=RS&i=2456
Also removes what appears to be obsolete language concerning municipal elections.