CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is clearly contemplating a run for higher office in 2024, but hasn’t made any indication at this point what that will be. However, a new poll finds if it’s the race for the Republican nomination for Governor, he’ll be in a strong position.
“If Attorney General Morrisey were to announce, he becomes the instant front runner,” said Adam Gelller with National Research Incorporated who conducted the poll.
The poll of 600 likely Republican primary voters, conducted last month, has Morrisey at 28 percent, Delegate Moore Capito at 15 percent, Secretary of State Mac Warner at 11 percent, car dealer Chris Miller at 6 percent, Auditor J.B. McCuskey and Jeff Mullins at three percent each, with 29 percent undecided.
There is a poll showing that WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading the Republican race for WV Governor. @adamhgeller provides the numbers and what this means to @HoppyKercheval. WATCH: https://t.co/yCFQ3nDJuy pic.twitter.com/sxFVFiHsXE
— MetroNews (@WVMetroNews) March 16, 2023
“The undecided number in a multi-candidate hypothetical ballot is a little bit high, but those underlying numbers like job approval and favorable numbers really indicate a lot of strength Morrisey has,” Gellar said when he appeared on MetroNews Talkline to discuss the poll Thursday.
Morrisey has spent much of his time as Attorney General tackling conservative causes with his position. He’s sued the U.S. EPA over environmental regulations which have been detrimental to coal and threatened West Virginia jobs. He’s joined his counterparts in other states to challenge the federal government on other things like abortion and the Second Amendment. The cumulative impact of those actions has resulted in stored treasure for Morrisey.
“There’s real meat on those bones. These accomplishments are the real high profile issues these voters care deeply about,” Gellar added.
There has been some conversation among West Virginia political observers that Morrisey may be eyeing another run for U.S. Senate against Joe Manchin. He lost previously by only three percentage points. But, Governor Jim Justice in recent days has made moves which seem to telegraph he’s leaning strongly toward the race. According to Gellar, he has no idea what Morrisey will do, but said this poll shows his potential to secure the Governor’s office is strong.
“I do know that if he does decide to run, everything in this survey tells me he would be in great shape,” he said.