Zachary Shrewsbury, a Marine Corps veteran and political organizer, believes change is coming to West Virginia. On Thursday, he posted on X (formerly Twitter), sharing his perspective on the state’s shifting political climate:
“Trumpism is cracking in West Virginia,” Shrewsbury wrote. “People aren’t loyal—they’re desperate. I see it daily in all my organizing. This state isn’t lost. With real focus and a movement rooted in labor and dignity, we can take it back.”
Shrewsbury, who leads the West Virginia-based nonprofit Bluejay Rising, was a Democratic contender in the 2024 U.S. Senate race to fill the seat vacated by longtime senator Joe Manchin. Although Shrewsbury didn’t win the nomination, he continues to advocate for grassroots organizing and labor-centered politics throughout the state.
The seat ultimately flipped red in a historic landslide win for Republican Jim Justice, ending decades of Democratic dominance in West Virginia’s Class I Senate seat. Glenn Elliott had secured the Democratic nomination but failed to gain traction in the general election.
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Shrewsbury’s post struck a chord with several residents. A retired educator, Bernie Hall, responded with his own experience: “I was in Monroe County this week… not one Trump sign in sight. Just a few weeks ago, they were everywhere.”
Another user referenced a strong turnout at a recent protest in Clarksburg, confirming Shrewsbury’s claim that grassroots organizing is picking up momentum across the state.
Over the weekend, Shrewsbury also addressed demonstrators at a “Hands Off” rally in Charleston, where he voiced strong criticism of Republican leaders’ handling of recent flooding disasters.
“Our state has been mismanaged and neglected,” Shrewsbury told the crowd. “We need to step up, from town councils all the way to the State House. The people in power are bleeding this place dry. If we want a future, we have to organize, run, fight—and win.”
His message was clear: change will only come if everyday West Virginians rise up to claim it .