CHARLESTON, W.Va. — During his tenure, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice enacted several socially conservative laws; however, he did not actively champion these measures.
The former Democrat, now a Republican, is set to transition to the U.S. Senate, succeeding former Independent U.S. Senator Joe Manchin. His time in office was more focused on stimulating economic growth and tax reductions rather than making prominent pushes for social issues, such as the state’s 2022 abortion ban, which he approved with minimal public emphasis.
Despite West Virginia’s status as a conservative bastion for over ten years, the state is poised to shift even further right socially with Patrick Morrisey stepping in as Justice’s successor. Morrisey, who has served as the state attorney general since 2013 and was the first Republican in eight decades to hold that position, has aggressively advocated for abortion restrictions, established a program resembling school voucher systems, and prevented transgender athletes from competing in sports aligned with their gender identity.
In contrast to Justice, who was sometimes perceived as neglectful of his responsibilities at the legislature, Morrisey is likely to adopt a more proactive stance in collaborating with lawmakers. At a recent press conference, he declared his intentions to immediately dismantle any elements of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the state government and to continue his efforts to eliminate what he termed the “woke” agenda.
Morrisey criticized the left’s “politically correct agenda,” arguing that such ideals should not have a place in West Virginia. During Justice’s administration, the governor expressed occasional discontent with the GOP-controlled Legislature’s extremity, exemplified when he vetoed a bill aimed at limiting vaccination mandates for nontraditional public school students last year. Conversely, during a gubernatorial debate, Morrisey indicated he would favor introducing a religious exemption to vaccination requirements, in a state that currently prohibits non-medical exemptions.
Mike Pushkin, the chair of the state Democratic Party, opined that Morrisey’s approach is markedly different from Justice’s, labeling him as an ideological figure with a strong conservative belief system. “You’re likely to see a very assertive conservative agenda,” he stated.
As Morrisey takes over, West Virginia Republicans enjoy one of the largest legislative supermajorities in the country, holding 123 out of 134 seats along with authority over all public works and congressional positions. Justice’s electoral success in the U.S. Senate was marked by his decisive defeat of a Democrat candidate endorsed by Manchin, who opted out of running for re-election.
Matt Herridge, the chair of the state GOP, characterized West Virginia as the “most dominant Republican state in the nation,” suggesting it serves as a model for the national party. He believes that the electorate has delivered a mandate for the party to advance conservative principles such as reduced government intervention and enhanced personal liberties.
In his view, Morrisey is a unifying figure for a “new Republican Party,” which adopts a more populist and working-class orientation while accommodating diverse perspectives, whereas Justice also aligned with this vision. Historically, West Virginia was governed by Democrats with a strong union influence, maintaining supermajorities in both legislative chambers until changes began in 2014, when backlash against Democratic President Barack Obama’s environmental policies catalyzed a political shift.
In the wake of this evolution, Republicans gained control over both legislative chambers post-2014 and have since dominated presidential elections, achieving 70% support for Donald Trump in 2024, the highest figure nationwide.
During his farewell address last week, Justice reflected on his administration’s accomplishments, including tax reductions, increased tourism, and infrastructure improvements while briefly addressing the abortion issue. “We stood rock solid for life, didn’t we?” he affirmed. He expressed pride in signing a law that bars transgender athletes from competing in the state, despite not advocating for the matter as persistently as Morrisey, who fought for the law’s defense in court.
Morrisey further emphasized his commitment to West Virginia’s values, stating, “We’re not going to allow the elites in the swamp to impose their values on West Virginia citizens,” as he announced plans to escalate legal challenges regarding the state’s healthcare provisions for transgender individuals. In the past summer, he indicated intentions to bring cases concerning discriminatory practices to the U.S. Supreme Court for review.
