Introduction
Charlotte Pritt (born January 2, 1949) is an educator, businesswoman, and politician in the U.S. state of West Virginia. From 1984 to 1988, she served in the West Virginia House of Delegates. From 1988 to 1992, she served in the West Virginia State Senate. She ran for governor in 1992, 1996, and once again for 2016.
Career
Prior to entering politics, Pritt was a high school English teacher and a college professor. When elected to the West Virginia State Legislature, she directed two federal education grants and the National Writing Program in West Virginia.
Gubernatorial campaigns
1992
Pritt ran for Governor as a Democrat in the primary election in 1992, but lost to Gaston Caperton. She gained notoriety initially by challenging then-Governor Caperton on his grocery and gasoline taxes and opposition to collective bargaining. Pritt entered the race as a democrat in 1992 after 100,000 people signed a petition. Her campaigns in 1992 and 1996 were grassroots campaigns.
1996
Pritt ran as a Democrat for governor and beat Joe Manchin in the primary. Due to Manchin founding a group called "Democrats for Underwood," Pritt lost narrowly in the general election, but made history as the first woman to secure the West Virginia gubernatorial nomination of either of the two major political parties.
2016
She was nominated as Mountain Party's candidate for West Virginia governor on July 16, 2016, at the party's convention. She came in third place in the general election, receiving 6.4% of the vote.
Mountain Party
From 2012 to 2014, she was Chairwoman of the Mountain Partywhich is the West Virginia Green Party state branch affiliate.
Personal life
Today, she is the president of Better Balance, a West Virginia-based educational and wellness consulting firm.