State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey emerged victorious in the Republican primary for West Virginia governor, beating out a crowded field vying to succeed Gov. Jim Justice. The Associated Press declared Morrisey the winner at 10:25 p.m., three hours after the polls closed, with 92% of ballots counted showing him in the lead with 33% of the vote.
Morrisey narrowly defeated former State Rep. Moore Capito, who garnered 27.8% support. Other contenders included businessman Chris Miller with 20.4% and State Secretary of State Mac Warner with 16.1%. Two lesser-known candidates, Kevin Christian and Mitch Roberts, each received 1.4% in the race.
Morrisey is known for his legal challenges against the Obama and Biden administrations, particularly on environmental regulations. Capito, grandson of former West Virginia Governor Arch Moore Jr., was elected to the House in 2016 and currently chairs the House Judiciary Committee in the West Virginia Legislature.
Several candidates in the race have close ties to West Virginia politics, with Morrisey having previously run against Senator Joe Manchin in 2018, Capito’s mother being Senator Shelley Moore Capito, and Miller’s mother serving as current Rep. Carol Miller.
Morrisey will now face Democratic nominee Huntington Mayor Steve Williams in the upcoming November election.
