Senate candidate Zach Shrewsbury accused of groping woman during massage
A female massage therapist has accused Zach Shrewsbury of groping her four times during a massage last month. In a new statement to WFP, Shrewsbury says he's continuing his run for the U.S. Senate.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Zach Shrewsbury, a candidate running in the 2026 West Virginia Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, has been accused by a female massage therapist — who Wheeling Free Press has chosen not to identify in this story — of sexual misconduct as she performed a massage for him in late July.
On Aug. 18, the woman posted a statement to social media writing that she worked on the upper body of Shrewsbury during a massage when he “reached out and groped my thigh.” She says she froze in the moment before moving her leg away and continuing the massage. The woman further reports that Shrewsbury grabbed her “three more times” during the course of the massage.
“As a licensed therapist providing a professional service, he had no right to touch me the way he did,” the woman wrote. “As a woman, he also had no right to touch me the way he did.”
The woman’s statement continued, saying that she contacted Shrewsbury days after the incident to express her concerns with the encounter. In response, she says Shrewsbury "oscillated between apologizing for ‘making me uncomfortable’ and excusing his behavior as ‘I’m just a flirty guy, I didn’t mean anything by it,’ and ‘I just needed something to grab onto since the massage was so good.’”
“I told myself it ‘wasn’t that bad,’ and [Shrewsbury] has ‘other good qualities,’” the woman wrote, “but the truth is, if a man in power is willing to grope a woman providing a professional service, his other good qualities don’t mean much.”
The massage therapist said it took her time to reflect on the experience before coming forward, but says she did so in hopes of encouraging others to speak out, adding, “I know my story about Zach is not the only one like it.”
Shortly after making her post, Shrewsbury responded on his personal Facebook page, seeming to admit to the accusations and apologizing for the way he made her feel.
“During the [massage] session, I reflexively grabbed her pants / leg when she hit a sore spot in my back,” Shrewsbury wrote. “She later shared with me that not only did that action make her uncomfortable, but some of my words also came across as flirtatious.”
Shrewsbury continued, writing that he was “truly sorry for making her feel uncomfortable,” and that he apologized to the woman twice wherein she “accepted my apology both times, but has brought it up as an issue again.”
While some rushed to support Shrewsbury after his post, others pushed back writing that his apology did not properly address the concerns raised by the accuser.
“In your first paragraph, you take no accountability, you deflect responsibility and try to make it seem like SHE [sic] did something that caused you to ‘react,’” one commenter wrote. “When in reality, YOU [sic] did something wrong…this is textbook deflection.”
Another person echoed concerns regarding accountability, writing “What is being discussed in the post is disappointing [but] seeing your attempt at cleaning it up is downright shameful. Instead of taking real accountability for the line you’ve crossed[,] the screenshots [from the accuser’s post] and full story show your campaign is and seemingly will always be your major concern.”
Wheeling Free Press reached out to the woman for further comment. She declined, saying she had nothing to add to her original statement at this time.
Wheeling Free Press also reached out to the Shrewsbury for Senate campaign for further comment. In response, Jennifer Holdsworth, a spokesperson for the campaign, relayed a message from Shrewsbury. In it, Shrewsbury again stated the intentions behind his actions did not erase their impact on the woman, and that he was taking that impact “seriously.”
“While I never meant to make the massage therapist uncomfortable, I understand that my inadvertent action did so nonetheless, and for that I am truly sorry,” the statement reads. “I appreciate all the support I have received, and I look forward to continuing my campaign’s important work. Together we will focus on making sure every West Virginian has the representation they deserve.”
Shrewsbury ran in the 2024 Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate, seeking to fill the seat of outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin. Shrewsbury ultimately lost that race to former Wheeling mayor Glenn Elliott. Last month, Shrewsbury announced he would once again run to become the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate.
On Thursday, Aug. 21, the West Virginia Democratic Party released a statement appearing to acknowledge the accusations against Shrewsbury without naming him. The statement stated that “serious allegations of inappropriate behavior” should not be “ignored or dismissed.”
“Anyone seeking the public’s trust should demonstrate respect and accountability in both words and actions,” the unsigned release reads. “Ultimately, candidates are responsible for their decisions, but anyone seeking public office must remain accountable to the people they hope to serve.”