General Election Campaign Begins For W.Va. Governor

The stage is now set for a two man, two party race for governor of West Virginia. 

In his acceptance speech, Republican nominee Attorney General Patrick Morrisey told supporters the Republican Party was splintered in the primary, but it will become unified to keep a conservative majority in West Virginia. 

“We’re not done fighting and winning for our conservative values,” Morrisey said. “We’re not done fighting and winning for the right to life, fighting and winning for our God-given Second Amendment rights.”

The Democratic nominee for governor, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, said his campaign began in earnest at 7:31 p.m. primary night. He said his platform will center on creating job opportunities and an environment that encourages investment.

“The way we get there is by making sure that our education system is the strongest in the country,” Williams said. “That we have the best infrastructure in the country and that we have the best health care in the country.”

With a primary campaign based on battling federal overreach and limiting transgender students rights, Morrisey told supporters he expects to have a close consultation after November with former President Donald Trump. 

“We’re gonna have a spirited discussion about how West Virginia will be that shining state in the mountains,” Morrisey said. “To increase our standard of living, to drive educational attainment, stop the drug menace, improve our infrastructure, and our internet speeds and to stop ‘woke’ policies at the state line.”

Williams hopes the campaign advertising battles remain issue-oriented and positive, but said that he’s leaving all options open. 

“Somebody punches me, I’m going to punch back,” Williams said. “One thing that is very clear from what we saw in the primary is that they will say anything, and the truth doesn’t necessarily have to get in the way.”

The 2024 general election is Nov. 5.