A candidate for West Virginia secretary of state recently found himself in an unexpected situation after being hospitalized for copperhead snake bites. Doug Skaff, who ran in the secretary of state's race as a Republican, was bitten in the left leg and right foot while removing election campaign signs near U.S. Route 119 in Danville.
Skaff shared that passersby quickly called for medical assistance, leading to his transport to a hospital in Charleston where he is expected to remain for a few days. This incident occurred just after Skaff finished second to Kris Warner in the unofficial election returns.
Skaff's political journey has seen some notable shifts in recent times. He resigned from his House of Delegates seat in Kanawha County last September after stepping down as the chamber’s Democratic leader in August. In October, he made the decision to switch to the GOP and pursue the position of secretary of state.
Skaff has a history of political involvement, having previously served in the House from 2009 to 2014 before being re-elected in 2018. Additionally, he holds the position of president at HD Media, a company that owns the Charleston Gazette-Mail and several other newspapers in the state.
