Charlotte, West Virginia – On Tuesday night, four candidates—three with long histories in West Virginia politics and one who relocated there twenty years ago—debated who would be the best Republican nominee for governor.
Three candidates—Car Dealer Chris Miller, Ex-state delegate Moore Capito, and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey—presented themselves as the most conservative in the May 14 primary battle in this extremely red state that twice handily elected former President Donald Trump.
What West Virginia needs is a conservative who has been successful in the past, according to Morrisey. But, according to Secretary of State Mac Warner, "being the most conservative" isn't the deciding factor in the gubernatorial contest. The people of West Virginia are the focus here.
The four gentlemen alternated between endorsing the state's present abortion restrictions, a death penalty for fentanyl dealers, higher teacher salaries, and further income tax cuts.
Their ideas for reversing the state's emigration that has been going on for a decade were diametrically opposed. Among the 50 states in the United States, West Virginia had the worst rate of population loss between 2010 and 2020.
In November's general election, the Republican nominee from the May 14 primary will go up against the Democratic candidate, Steve Williams. Williams, the current mayor of Huntington, faces no challenger in the primary election for his political party. It is against the law for Republican Governor Jim Justice to pursue a third straight term in office.
Former New Jersey resident Morrisey relocated to the state in 2006 and was inaugurated to his first of three stints as attorney general in 2012. Examining issues like taxes, regulations, labor and licensing restrictions, and teacher compensation, he anticipates a "robust" rivalry with neighboring states to expand the state's economy.
The four gentlemen alternated between endorsing the state's present abortion restrictions, a death penalty for fentanyl dealers, higher teacher salaries, and further income tax cuts. Their ideas for reversing the state's emigration that has been going on for a decade were diametrically opposed. Among the 50 states in the United States, West Virginia had the worst rate of population loss between 2010 and 2020.
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