CHARLESTON – Gov. Jim Justice won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, and current state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is the GOP candidate for governor.
According to preliminary data, Justice had 62 percent of the GOP vote in the May 14 primary, with 50 percent of precincts. His closest competitor was incumbent U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney with 27 percent of the vote.
(Editor’s note: Data is correct as of 11:15 p.m. EDT)
“It is an honor to be the Republican Party’s nominee for United States Senate in West Virginia,” Justice said in a provided statement. “As a patriot and conservative, I believe strongly in the greatness of America and am committed to putting America and West Virginia first.”
Justice will face Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, who won the Democratic primary that also included miner Zach Shrewsbury and former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship. The winner of this fall’s general election will replace Joe Manchin, who has decided not to run for another term.
In the governor’s race, Morrisey defeated former legislator Moore Capito, who overtook Huntington businessman Chris Miller and current Secretary of State Mac Warner in the Republican primary, while Huntington Mayor Steve Williams was unopposed on the Democratic side.
“I congratulate Patrick Morrisey on his victory today in the Republican primary for governor in West Virginia, said Republican Governors Association Chairman Bill Lee of Tennessee. “Patrick Morrisey has repeatedly stood up to Democratic bureaucratic pressure and will continue to do so as the next governor of West Virginia, ensuring freedom and economic opportunity for West Virginians across the state.”
In the race for state attorney general, incumbent Auditor J.B. McCuskey defeated state senator and former U.S. Attorney Mike Stuart in the Republican primary, and Wheeling attorney Teresa Toriseva defeated former South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb on the Democratic side.
“Thank you, West Virginia,” Toriseva said. “We made history tonight.
“As the first woman nominated by any party for Attorney General of West Virginia, I am thrilled to continue our campaign to be the Attorney General for all West Virginians. I would like to thank my opponent for a spotless, well-conducted campaign focused on specific issues. “
In one of the state’s two House races, incumbent Republican Carol Miller won an effortless victory over Derrick Evans, who is accused of taking part in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, and in the race to replace Mooney, state Treasurer Riley Moore easily defeated four other GOP candidates. Democrat Chris Bob Reed defeated Jim Umberger to face Miller in the first district race, while Steve Wendelin was unopposed in the second district Democratic race.
Kris Warner won the battle to replace his brother Mac as Secretary of State in the GOP primary, defeating Doug Skaff Jr. and others, while Thornton Cooper was unopposed in the Democratic race.
Charleston attorney Mark Hunt defeated Eric Householder and two others in the Republican race for auditor, while Mary Ann Roebuck Claytor ran unopposed as a Democrat.
Incumbent Kent Leonhardt easily won the GOP race for agriculture commissioner, defeating Josh Higginbotham and Roy Ramey, while Deborah Stiles was unopposed on the Democratic side.
Republican Larry Pack is the only candidate running for the treasurer position currently held by Riley Moore.
In the Republican primary for the 15th state Senate District, incumbent Senate President Craig Blair led Tom Willis 41% to 34%, with 88% of precincts reporting. Fellow GOP Senate incumbents Mike Maroney, Chandler Swope and Robert Karnes lost their re-election races. Incumbent House Republicans Diana Winzenreid, David “Flimsy” Adkins, Heather Tully and Don Forscht lost their primary races.
In some of the state’s more high-profile district court races, Kanawha County incumbent Jennifer Bailey defeated challenger Ashley Deem, and Putnam County incumbent Phillip Stowers easily defeated challenger Jon Hoover. In the northern part of the country, incumbent President Ronald Wilson lost his re-election race to Joseph Barki. In the 11th District, which covers Mingo and Logan counties, Sabrina Leigh Deskins overtook incumbent Mike Thompson.
Also in Kanawha County, former legislator Richard D. Lindsay II defeated Eric Cantrell for the newly created eighth district judge position.
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West Virginia also has a novel state Supreme Court justice.
Longtime legislator Charles Trump was unopposed in the race for the court seat currently held by John Hutchison, who chose not to run for another term.
Incumbent Judge Haley Bunn was also unopposed in her race. Because judicial races in West Virginia are impartial, they are decided in a primary election.
Trump was a Republican member of the House of Delegates and the state Senate, where he also served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee. Bunn was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2022 to fill the unexpired term of Evan Jenkins, who resigned.
In the fight for a seat on the Charleston state Intermediate Court of Appeals, attorney and lobbyist Ryan White defeated Wheeling attorney and former state Republican Party chairwoman Elgine McArdle and Charleston attorney Mychal Schulz. He will replace current ICA judge Thomas Scarr, who has chosen not to hold an election following his appointment to the novel court starting in 2022.
