Gov. Patrick Morrisey and his allies made a road trip to Parkersburg the last day of early voting to campaign, and it appears that kind of effort paid off.
Morrisey had particularly targeted House Finance Chairman Vernon Criss while supporting newcomer Charles Hartzog in the Republican primary.
“I believe Vernon Criss is outside the mainstream on several key issues,” Morrisey posted prior to the election.
Unofficial results showed Hartzog winning by 266 votes.
The governor and his allies also worked against incumbent Delegate Scot Heckert while supporting challenger Melissa McCrady.
McCrady was the winner by 382 votes.
The governor was unusually active throughout the primary election season with endorsements and campaigning to help some Republican candidates while working against their Republican opponents.
Morrisey and political action committees associated with the governor particularly focused efforts against Criss and Heckert plus Finance Vice Chairman Clay Riley, Gary Howell of Mineral County and Jeffrey Stephens of Marshall County.
Riley won by 419 votes.
Howell won by 101 votes.
But Stephens lost by 419 votes.
Incumbent Delegate Laura Kimble, who had Morrisey’s support, lost her race in Harrison County by four votes.
Other House incumbents who unofficial results showed being defeated included Daniel Linville of Cabell County, although the margin was two votes; House Energy Chairman Bill Anderson, although the margin was five votes; and Mark Zatezalo of Hancock County, the vice chairman of the House Energy Committee.
Marshall Clay, a former House sergeant at arms who then served as a delegate, was defeated by 269 votes.
Canvassing could still alter those close results.
In House races, Morrisey endorsed: