West Virginia attorney general wins governor's race to replace Jim Justice

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) is the projected winner of the state's gubernatorial race, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.

Morrisey defeated Democratic nominee Steve Williams (D), the mayor of Huntington, W.Va., in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Jim Justice (R). Justice is running for retiring Sen. Joe Manchin's (I) seat in the Senate.

The attorney general battled through a crowded GOP primary, including businessman Chris Miller and former state Rep. Moore Capito (R) — the son of West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R). Morrisey, 56, was endorsed by former President Trump shortly after winning the primary.

LGBTQ issues emerged as a major focus during the primary race. A pro-Morrisey political action committee — Black Bear PAC — released an ad in April that accused Miller of protecting "they/them, not us” while sitting on the Marshall University board. Another ad hit Capito for protecting "woke counselors," adding that the next governor "has to keep the radical transgender agenda out of West Virginia."

Lawmakers in the state passed more than two dozen bills targeting the LGBTQ community in 2024 — though only one bill passed both chambers, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Morrisey's win comes just a few months after Manchin, who was floated as a potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate, announced he would stay out of the race. The West Virginia independent, who recently left the Democratic Party, endorsed Williams.

He was elected as West Virginia’s top prosecutor back in 2012. The attorney general's run for the governor's mansion will leave the top legal office in the Mountain State up for grabs.