CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Many are reacting on what the results of this week’s primary election mean for the future of the state legislature and its relationship with Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
Morrisey said Tuesday night he’s willing to work with the winners of the races in the House and Senate.
“Everyone now needs to be on the same team,” Morrisey said on MetroNews Decision 2026 coverage. “When elections occur, the voters make the decision. We have to show great respect and deference to those people.”
Morrisey said he won 9 of 12 races that he targeted in the Senate GOP Primary.
PACs associated with Morrisey spent significantly in trying to defeat Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier. In unofficial MetroNews-tabulated results, Deeds defeated Jonathan Comer by nearly 2,900 votes.
Deeds said Wednesday everyone needs to work together to advance the state forward. He said he wants Morrisey to succeed.
“The only way that he succeeds is that he works with the Senate and the House, it’s just that simple,” Deeds said, adding he wants to be part of that work.
Deeds said it’s not personal.
“It’s not a Vince Deeds and Patrick Morrisey issue. This is an issue between the governor’s office, the Senate and the House, and we all have to get on the same page,” Deeds said Wednesday on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Morrisey backed candidates beat several incumbents in the House of Delegates including House Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss. Finance Committee Vice Chairman Clay Riley, R-Harrison, survived a challenge. PAC money was spent against Riley.
He said Wednesday it’s time to move on.
“We’re elected to do the work for the people of West Virginia. I don’t hold grudges,” Riley said. “My dad raised me to say, ‘Go do the work son and good things turn out.'”
Deeds said the steps forward just include “listening to the people.”
“It’s pretty simple. We talk about (PAC) money and how much came in but the voters have the ultimate say,” he said.
Kanawha County Commissioner Lance Wheeler won a three-way state Senate race in a district that includes precincts in Kanawha, Putnam, Jackson, Clay and Roane counties. He defeated Sen. Kevan Bartlett, R-Kanawha, and Kanawha-Charleston Health Department Director Dr. Stephen Eshenaur. Wheeler said he knocked on 1,000 doors during the campaign.
“I keep seeing a trend that voters want conservative values, West Virginia conservative values,” Wheeler said on “Talkline.”
The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce went against him in the race.
“Unfortunately, the Chamber of Commerce decided to go with another candidate in this election and I think the voters have sent a message to the Chamber that they got it wrong,” Wheeler said. “I’m looking forward to receiving that phone call from the Chamber, working with them and seeing how we can bring prosperity back here to the state of West Virginia.”
Former Morgantown City Council member Rachel Fetty Anderson defeated former state Senate President Jeff Kessler in the race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.
She said it’s time for equal treatment for all.
“I think we’re really looking for someone who, I wanted to represent a perspective that would say that women deserve equal rights,” Fetty Anderson said during a “Talkline” appearance Wednesday.
She faces U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito in the fall election.
“I know it’s going to be difficult but I think all we have to do is look at the record of the Republicans both at both the federal level and the state level and what we’ll see is that these folks don’t represent the voter anymore,” she said.