A political action committee associated with Gov. Patrick Morrisey has gone on a spending spree just a few weeks out from a rollicking primary election.
Morrisey has made no secret of his intent to participate heavily in the primary election cycle, endorsing some candidates and hitting the trail for allies.
“We need candidates who will help us advance a policy agenda that puts West Virginia first,” the governor posted on his personal social media account earlier this month.
A political action committee directly aligned with Morrisey has been spending big bucks on competitive Republican primary races in West Virginia while raising money through a backyard brawl of billionaires.
Sugar Maple PAC
Sugar Maple PAC reported April 7 that it had more than a half million dollars — $565,000 — in hand and ready to go. Filings since then show it has picked up the pace to spend for candidates aligned with the governor and against others.
The PAC has a confluence of connections with Morrisey.
Sugar Maple’s treasurer is Charles Gantt, who is also treasurer for two additional arms of Morrisey’s political operations, Black Bear PAC and West Virginia Prosperity Group. He also served as treasurer of 35th Inc., a super PAC that spent millions of dollars as Morrisey was running for U.S. Senate in 2018.
Sugar Maple has spent a total of $73,066.00 so far through the vendor Matchstick Media, where co-founder D.J. Eckert was a past executive director for Morrisey’s 35th Inc.
And Sugar Maple has spent $289,480 through the vendor Acquire Digital, LLC, which is owned and operated by Robert Sechrist, former digital director for the Republican State Leadership Committee. Morrisey has maintained a long-term relationship with the Republican State Leadership Committee.
Big donors
Sugar Maple’s major donors are a who’s who among advocates for greater flexibility in public school systems. Several have a particular interest in promoting “school choice” policies like charter schools and education vouchers.
The richest person in Pennsylvania, SIG trading firm managing director Jeff Yass, contributed $100,000. Yass is a prominent megadonor to Republican and libertarian causes, mainly focused on the issue of school choice.
Hedge fund manager Thomas Klingenstein of New York City, chairman of the board of trustees of the Claremont Institute, a conservative think tank, also contributed $100,000 to Sugar Maple.
Another hedge fund manager, Sean Fieler of Stamford, Conn., contributed $50,000. He’s a regular political donor known for his backing of religious and conservative causes.
In addition to the prominent individuals, the yes. every. kid. contributed $100,000. That’s an organization dedicated to transforming K-12 education in America through a “family-first” approach.
For and Against
Although Morrisey, a Republican, has been partnered with Republican supermajorities in the state Senate and House of Delegates the first two years of his term as governor, he has said he wants lawmakers who are even more aligned with his views.
The dollars of Sugar Maple have been working to try to get that done.
The PAC spent the largest amounts to support several candidates aligned with Morrisey.
Incumbent Senator Kevan Bartlett, a Republican from Kanawha County, received the highest total support with $39,190.50 spent on his behalf. Bartlett is a pastor and former delegate who Morrisey named to the Senate in 2025 to fill a vacancy.
Incumbent Senator Laura Wakim Chapman, a Republican from Ohio County, received $30,633.13 in total support through Sugar Maple expenditures.
Incumbent Senator Anne Charnock has received $26,082.67 in support from Sugar Maple. Morrisey named Charnock to a vacant Senate seat in 2025.
Jonathan Comer, a Republican who is a pastor in Greenbrier County, has received $16,473.00 in support from Sugar Maple. The governor and first lady Denise Morrisey have been personally campaigning for Comer. Multiple reports have said the candidate is related to Kevin Comer, constituent services liaison for Morrisey.
Senate candidate Chris Pritt, a former Republican delegate, has received $13,404.00 in support from Sugar Maple. Chris Pritt was listed as director for Morrisey’s West Virginia Wins Inaugural Committee Inc. in 2025.
Sugar Maple also directed substantial funds toward opposing several candidates.
Incumbent Senator Vince Deeds, a Republican from Greenbrier County, has faced the most significant opposition from Sugar Maple, which has spent a total of $36,798.50 against him. Deeds faces the Morrisey-backed Comer in the primary.
Incumbent Senator Tom Takubo, a former Republican majority leader, has been the target of $27,958.00 in opposition spending by Sugar Maple. He’s up against Morrisey ally Chris Pritt.
Sugar Maple has spent $15,853.62 in opposition to businessman Joseph Eddy, who is up against an incumbent senator backed by the governor, Wakim-Chapman, in Northern Panhandle counties.
And Sugar Maple has spent $15,279.33 against businessman Michael Jarrouj who is up against Charnock for an unexpired Kanawha County term.
Sugar Maple has spent $6,593.45 against incumbent Delegate Clay Riley of Harrison County, $6,177.83 against Delegate Scot Heckert of Wood County, $5,759.33 against House Finance Chairman Vernon Criss of Wood County, $4,856 against incumbent Jeffrey Stephens of Marshall County and $4,399.92 against incumbent Delegate Gary Howell of Mineral County.
The PAC has spent in $6,426.17 in support of challenger Melissa McCrady in her race against Heckert, $6,209.58 in support of Mineral County Commissioner Charles “Dutch” Staggs against Howell, $6,208.88 to support Don Dewitt against Stephens, $6,083.30 to support Megan Krajewski against Riley and $5,449.67 for Charles Hartzog against Criss.
Takubo, speaking on “The Dave Allen Show” on 580 WCHS radio, criticized the influx of out-of-state money into West Virginia politics, suggesting it’s tied to ulterior motives rather than genuine support for local candidates.
“This is all coming from D.C., New York, New Jersey, California, all recruited to come in here and run against local people. And the question I would have is, why?” Takubo said, going on to say good policy shouldn’t come with such a cost.
“You know, if I’m going to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars, or if people willing to do that, they want something in return.”
Morrisey’s personal pitch for allies
The governor has been hitting the road for candidates. He made pitches for Comer at Republican forums last Friday and Saturday evenings in Monroe and Summers counties. Deeds, the incumbent senator, and his allies were right there in the audience.
In Monroe County, the governor said to accomplish his administration’s goals, “We need the right group of people focusing on trying to make that happen, and that’s why I’ve been engaging in different races, trying to make sure that we have strong economic concerns, but also people that respect our West Virginia conservative values.”
He told Republicans in Summers County, “I like to take the high road. I want to focus on the positive things for you. But we should not be satisfied with where we are. We need to grow. We need to get better and better and better.”