A messy GOP primary for West Virginia governor
With Justice term-limited out of the West Virginia governor's office, the open-seat Republican primary features members of three old West Virginia political families: former state Del. Moore Capito, the son of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito; car dealer Chris Miller, the son of Rep. Carol Miller; and Secretary of State Mac Warner, whose father and brother were both state legislators. However, the front-runner is a relative newcomer to the state: Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (whose first campaign was for New Jersey's 7th Congressional District in 2000).
![](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/8e3bbfa6-bd11-459c-96e7-6ec3641e1c1a/Patrick-Morrisey-gty-jm-240513_1715614069846_hpEmbed_3x2.jpg)
Trump has not endorsed in this race, but (so?) the candidates have been tripping over each other to prove they are the most pro-Trump — and, in a state that recently banned gender-affirming care, the most anti-transgender. For example, a pro-Morrisey PAC has hammered Miller for "pro-transgender events" (its language for drag shows and a free clothing closet for transgender students) at Marshall University, where Miller served on the board of governors until last year. Meanwhile, supporters of Miller have hit back at Morrisey for being a lobbyist for a "drug company that helps turn boys into girls" in an ad that also unsubtly pokes fun at Morrisey's height and weight.
Thanks to his ability to self-fund, Miller has spent twice as much money as Morrisey, $6.2 million to $3.1 million. However, polls indicate it hasn't done that much to boost his support. Instead, it is Capito who looks like he poses the biggest threat to Morrisey: Since April 1, he has risen from 16 percent to 26 percent in 538's polling average of the race, within striking distance of Morrisey at 33 percent. (Miller is at 20 percent, and Warner is at 12 percent.) Capito recently received the endorsement of Justice himself, and if he wins, would likely govern in the incumbent's back-slapping, deal-making style; the Club for Growth and Americans for Prosperity-endorsed Morrisey, though, is more of a hardliner.
—Nathaniel Rakich, 538
![PHOTO: A chart showing Patrick Morrisey at 32.7 percent, Moore Capito at 26.2 percent, Chris Miller at 19.6 percent and Mac Warner at 12.4 percent.](https://i.abcnewsfe.com/a/585493a6-4e00-49d5-80c3-f7354036ee1d/wvgovRprimaryavgfinal-538-cb-240514_1715695023218_hpEmbed_5x4.jpg)