CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — Governor Patrick Morrisey (R-WV) was officially sworn into the state’s top seat in an inauguration ceremony Monday.
Morrisey is taking over for Jim Justice (R-WV), who got elected to the U.S. Senate in the 2024 general election. Former West Virginia State Auditor JB McCuskey was sworn into office as the state’s new Attorney General, filling Morrisey’s former position.
“Today is the dawn of a new era. A symbolic new start for our state,” Morrisey said in his inauguration speech. “Today, we set our sights on something truly great – a future where West Virginia is thriving in that shining state in the mountains.”
Until his inauguration, Morrisey served as West Virginia Attorney General since 2012. He is married to now-First Lady Denise, and they share a daughter, Julia. Morrisey is the son of a WWII veteran and a VA nurse. He is the first in his family to graduate college and law school.
Morrisey’s legal victories are noted as historic for the Mountain State, with record-setting opioid settlements, and West Virginia vs. EPA, which is known as one of the most pivotal U.S. Supreme Court wins.
The gubernatorial inauguration ceremony got underway with the traditional invocation, given this year by Deacon David Galvin.
One of now-Governor Morrisey’s biggest goals for his time in office is to create an economic “backyard brawl” with friendly competition between bordering states. He says he wants West Virginia to be the example when it comes to jobs, opportunities and quality of life.
He added that cutting the state income tax lower than any of our bordering states is a big part of this plan. He also encourages people from out of state to consider calling West Virginia home.
“This economic revival, though. It’s more than just cutting taxes and red tape. It’s about unleashing the full potential of our people and engaging in spirited competition every day. Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky – we’re coming for you economically,” Morrisey said.
As West Virginia ranks near the bottom for education, Morresy hopes to change that. He says focusing on learning the basics and incorporating modern methods is key. He says good education starts with teachers, so he plans to raise the pay competitively with surrounding states.
Beyond the benchmark, Morrisey wants to eliminate the “woke virus” in schools.
“We’ll teach our kids Civics, and we’ll eliminate the woke virus from schools. And that means starting now, there will be no more DEI, no more radical agendas, no more brainwashing, no more confusion about the differences between boys and girls,” Morrisey said.
The new governor also hopes to expand the Hope Scholarship, which gives financial aid to students to attend public or private schools in West Virginia.
The festivities for the inauguration also included a faith-based breakfast Monday morning and a parade Monday afternoon with dozens of high school bands from across the state. The celebration will wind down Monday night with fireworks at 7:30 p.m. at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. The fireworks will be followed by the Inaugural Dinner. The evening will end with the black-tie Inaugural Ball.
In the gubernatorial race, Morrisey faced four competitors: then-Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D), Erika Klie-Kolenich (L), S. Marshall Wilson (C) and Chase Linko-Looper (M).
The majority of every county voted for Morrisey, but the race in Cabell County, where Huntington is, was a little closer. Morrisey won by just under 2,000 votes, according to the Secretary of State’s website.
For a full breakdown of every county and how they voted, see the interactive graphic below. If you are having trouble using the graphic.
As a ruby-red state, West Virginia's major races were all called for Republicans and pretty quickly as well. The presidential and U.S. Senate races went to Donald Trump and Justice respectively.