Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R., W.Va.) notched major legislative wins in his state’s GOP primaries, setting himself and national conservatives up for wins on his priorities, like tax cuts and school choice. GOP backed by Morrisey and groups like Americans for Prosperity (AFP) unseated incumbents who opposed school choice initiatives and this year’s effort to lower West Virginia’s income tax rate.
Morrisey touted that 33 of his endorsed candidates winning on Tuesday, after raising more than $350,000 in direct contributions for those campaigns while outside groups allied with the governor spent nearly $3 million in support of his candidates.
Among the biggest wins for Morrisey were losses for liberal Republicans on the state House’s Finance Committee. House Finance Chairman Vernon Criss and Delegate Scot Heckert were both defeated Tuesday. Both Republicans were vocal opponents of the governor’s agenda. The powerful Finance Chairman lost his race to a 23-year-old political newcomer Charles Hartzog.
Morrisey told the Washington Reporter that “West Virginia Republicans are done with the status quo. Voters want our leaders to fight for our state’s future, and that meant nominating Republicans who share that vision.”
“The candidates who prevailed campaigned to unleash economic opportunity, cut taxes, and advance educational freedom,” Morrisey continued. “Voters rejected the good-ole-boy system in favor of voices that fight for our values. Voters refuse to settle for second best.”
The first-term governor received praise from legislators for backing conservative winners. State senator Anne Charnock issued “a special thank you to Governor Morrisey for his continued support. The best is still ahead.”
