Summary
Patrick James Morrisey (born December 21, 1967) is an American politician and attorney who is the governor-elect of West Virginia. He has served as the 34th Attorney General of West Virginia since 2013. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected to the position in 2012, becoming the first Republican to serve in the role since 1933. Running for the United States Senate in 2018, Morrisey won the Republican Party nomination, but was narrowly defeated by incumbent Democratic Senator Joe Manchin in the November general election.
Morrisey was elected governor in 2024, defeating Democrat Steve Williams in a landslide victory. He is the first Republican elected for a first term since Arch A. Moore Jr. in 1968.
OnAir Post: Patrick Morrisey – WV
About
Source: Campaign Site
Since being elected West Virginia’s Attorney General in 2012, Patrick Morrisey has secured countless wins for the Mountain State and our West Virginia conservative values. He is nationally recognized as a leader in the fight against federal overreach.
Morrisey has been the public face of some of the nation’s most significant legal victories in recent years. He spearheaded America’s largest win against the deep administrative state in decades (WV v. EPA), a pivotal case for our state because it helps protect energy jobs and limits the ability of federal agencies to issue regulations without clear statements from Congress. He was a leading advocate of bringing constitutional carry to West Virginia citizens, led the effort to successfully defend the state’s school choice laws (one of the broadest in the country), and set up the first-ever Disability Fraud Unit in the state over Republican and Democratic opposition. He’s the first pro-life Attorney General in West Virginia history, and defends our states’ pro-life laws in Court without reservation.
With his unmatched experience and incredible success, Patrick Morrisey is now the leading Republican candidate for Governor of West Virginia. He is the only proven conservative who has taken on many of the biggest challenges facing West Virginians, and won. Patrick is running for Governor to put more money in the pockets of hardworking West Virginians, to advance educational excellence, supercharge economic and workforce growth, and protect families from the ravages of drugs and the woke, anti-freedom, socialist threats facing us today.
Under Morrisey’s leadership, West Virginia has aggressively attacked the opioid epidemic. He’s won numerous settlements against drug companies, bringing in a record-breaking amount of funds (over $1 billion with the counties and cities, and securing the highest per capita settlements in the nation) to be used to fight this epidemic. He has established a comprehensive agreement and plan for the state and all of its political subdivisions to address the drug and fentanyl problems holistically. Morrisey’s landmark agreement was widely praised, earning public votes of support from all 55 West Virginia counties and 34-0 and 94-0 votes in the state Senate and House.
Morrisey’s conservative values stem from his upbringing, instilled in him from his father, a World War II veteran and account manager for steel companies, and his mother, a VA registered nurse. The Attorney General put himself through college and law school by working multiple jobs and balancing his academic, athletic, and economic pursuits. His strength of character, hard work ethic, and perseverance were further strengthened after law school when he nearly endured bankruptcy. He waited tables, picked up odd jobs, practiced law, and put in very long hours to make ends meet.
A Rutgers College and Rutgers School of Law graduate, Morrisey has had a multi-faceted career in law and public service, including roles as a former Partner and Practice Chair at a major national law firm, a former Chairman of the Republican Attorney Generals Association, a former Chief Counsel to the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee, an owner of his own law practice, and former professional Tennis Umpire (worked through the finals of the U.S. Open). Patrick is married to his wife, Denise, and they have one daughter, Julia. He moved to Harpers Ferry in 2006, after many years of visiting the state and taking in its beauty.
Web Links
Politics
Source: none
In 2012, Morrisey ran for Attorney General of West Virginia against Darrell McGraw, a five-term incumbent. He defeated McGraw and was sworn in on January 14, 2013, making him the first Republican state Attorney General to serve in West Virginia since 1933.
New Legislation
Issues
Electing a Proven Conservative, Fighter, and Winner as Governor
In this campaign, many candidates will make promises. One candidate, however, has an unmatched conservative record of delivering victories on the most important challenges facing West Virginians. Only one candidate is a proven conservative who has faced down the far-left and the political elites and won, time after time after time.
From precedent-setting wins against the deep state on federal overreach (West Virginia v. EPA) to protecting our West Virginia jobs (See Waters of the US case) to upholding West Virginia school choice and charter school laws, to winning the highest per capita drug settlements in the nation (in the face of aggressive smear campaigns by the opposition) to running one of the most efficient and successful offices in state government (generating and protecting over two billion dollars in value for West Virginia taxpayers) to taking on the woke-left and socialist policies, including their ESG and radical climate agenda, to defending the sanctity of life and the integrity of women’s sports, to advancing our Second Amendment rights, to blocking the forced jab, NO other candidate can come close to matching Morrisey’s record of accomplishment. In the upcoming primary, West Virginians need to elect someone with a proven record— not just someone who will make promises. The stakes are too high for us to put someone in the Governor’s Office who is very inexperienced or who would get crushed by the forces on the other side. We need someone principled, experienced, and effective — that is Patrick Morrisey.
Defeating Federal Overreach and the Deep State
Patrick Morrisey is the only candidate for Governor with a long record of taking on and winning fights against federal overreach that kills West Virginia jobs. Morrisey spearheaded the country’s single biggest separation of powers victory against federal agency overreach in years when he led a massive coalition of states against the EPA and stopped their unlawful carbon emissions rule. Now, West Virginia v. EPA is cited as a central case in efforts to help dismantle the size and scope of the administrative state. Equally important, Morrisey’s wins saved thousands of West Virginia jobs.
Cut Taxes, Wipe Out the State Income Tax, and Put More Money in People’s Pockets
Patrick Morrisey believes that a tax on income is an incentive to work less. West Virginia must join the ranks of the states that don’t have an income tax. If we want to successfully compete against all of the states that we touch, we need to have THE lowest personal income tax in the region. We also need to engage in comprehensive tax reform and compare all of West Virginia’s taxes to the states which we touch. We will better compete in the modern economy when we are free and not penalized for engaging in commerce.
Separately, Morrisey led a 25-state coalition case to block the Biden, “so-called” waters of the US rule. If you are a farmer, a contractor, a realtor, a property owner, or just someone who cares about economic activity, this rule is an abomination. Morrisey and a massive state coalition helped ensure that a backyard ditch or an ephemeral stream would not be classified as a federally navigable waterway, such as the Ohio, the Mississippi, or the Potomac.
The Attorney General is known as one of the most aggressive and successful advocates in the nation against overreaching government. These efforts are crucial for preserving freedom and West Virginia jobs.
As Governor, Morrisey will supercharge these efforts because now he will have the full weight and authority of state government behind him. Imagine how much federal and state overreach can be pushed back when dozens of state agencies are all moving in the same direction, instead of just the Attorney General’s office.
As Governor, Morrisey will conduct a comprehensive regulatory review and get rid of wasteful, unneeded, and duplicative regulations. West Virginia will serve as a model for the nation in terms of protecting our citizens’ freedoms.
Build out Broadband
West Virginia deserves internet that doesn’t move at the speed of slow. As Attorney General, Morrisey took on companies that had bad consumer practices and has fought to get them to live up to the law and their promises. Morrisey brought in a $160 million settlement against Frontier and aggressively promotes additional speed expansions which help West Virginia individuals and businesses. As Governor, Morrisey will prioritize broadband build outs that allow West Virginia to better attract citizens to our state. In today’s era, broadband is a central part of a state’s physical infrastructure.
Stop Woke-Initiatives and Federal Overreach at the West Virginia Border
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey will stop federal overreach and woke ideas at the West Virginia line. As Governor, he will build upon his many successes blocking the federal government from destroying our culture and values and will establish an Executive Task Force, comprised of the Governor, the Attorney General, and other key state officials, who will be charged with identifying initiatives that require rebutting from West Virginia state government. West Virginia will remain that shining state in the mountains, and we will protect our jobs, our kids, our values, our freedoms, and our Constitution from external threats and the political elites.
Advance Educational Attainment and Make WV a National Leader in Educational Choice and Charter Schools
As Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey successfully defended our state’s school choice and charter school laws. As Governor, Morrisey will build upon these programs and push for money to follow the child. West Virginia should have the most expansive school choice law in the nation. He will conduct a review of teacher salaries and educational bureaucracies in all of the states that we touch to determine how West Virginia can compete more effectively for the best teachers in the region — West Virginia teachers deserve a raise, and our state must commit to their long-term success so our best educators don’t move to our neighboring states
Protect our Second Amendment Rights
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is a national leader defending our Second Amendment rights and has maintained an A+ rating from a number of the prominent gun groups, including the National Rifle Association, and the West Virginia Citizens Defense League. He is also endorsed by the prominent Gun Owners of America. Morrisey is currently leading the national coalition of 25 states against the Biden Administration’s so-called pistol brace rule, which would transform millions of Americans into felons. He previously led the way for constitutional carry and has increased the number of states where West Virginia has gun reciprocity to 38. He has made protecting gun rights a major priority — no one else can come near his pro-gun record.
As Attorney General, Morrisey is considered one of the most reliable and effective advocates for gun rights in the country. As Governor, he will do even more and ensure West Virginia is a safe haven from the crazy woke activists advocating for a constitutionally suspect, pro-gun control agenda.
Protect Life and Advance Pro-Family Policies
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is the first pro-life Attorney General in state history and is currently defending the state’s laws regulating abortion. Morrisey has helped lead the way to make West Virginia a pro-life state and will continue being a staunch advocate for the unborn as Governor. Morrisey has been endorsed by West Virginians for Life repeatedly and has the best record in the field protecting babies. As Governor, he will work to help low-income moms who bring their children to term so that West Virginia’s culture of protecting life continues to extend beyond birth.
Defend Integrity of Women’s Sports
Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has been one of the nation’s most outspoken advocates against biological males playing sports with women. He is defending the state’s women’s sports law and pushing back aggressively against the Biden Administration’s efforts to turn Title IX on its head and force college institutions to allow males to play in women’s sports, or face loss of federal monies. Morrisey believes the left’s agenda is grossly unfair and displaces women who want to compete and rely on sports to develop leadership skills. Morrisey’s office has developed a national model for how to attack the left’s attack on women’s sports and has generated thousands of pages of evidence showing the biological differences between men and women. As Governor, Morrisey won’t have to take a poll to know the difference between the sexes. He knows about the danger of hormone blockers and these drugs administered to young kids, some of whom started receiving transition treatments as young as age 7 or 8. This is wrong and must end.
Stop the Drug and Fentanyl Plague Killing our Citizens
As Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey took on the big companies who helped fuel the drug epidemic in our state, and he held them accountable with all of the tools at his disposal. Morrisey is widely regarded as securing some of the highest per-capita settlements in the nation against drug companies for their role in the drug epidemic. Even more importantly, though, Morrisey worked with the counties, the cities, the Legislature and the Governor to develop a new structure that will allow West Virginia, for the first time ever, to attack the drug plague holistically, from a supply, demand, and educational perspective. West Virginia now has a plan AND resources to fight the drug problem.
Beyond litigation against the drug companies, Morrisey has also successfully attacked the root causes of the drug epidemic. In 2017, Morrisey sued the DEA, and forced them to rewrite the nation’s drug quota laws. This was a significant victory and has greatly reduced the oversupplying of legal drugs in our country. Morrisey was also out in front developing educational programs and fostering partnerships with schools of nursing and pharmacy to look out for the children of our state, so that they better understand the perils of these dangerous drug products (Kids Kick Opioids and Opioid Awareness Games of the Week are now very popular in WV).
As Governor, Morrisey plans to build upon the assets of the West Virginia First Foundation and rely upon it as a magnet to attract additional resources from the private sector and others to ensure we don’t lose another generation to senseless death.
Right now, West Virginia is facing a fentanyl menace and a massive oversupply of these dangerous drugs. Our state must take additional steps to beef up our law enforcement presence in border counties, and also pressure the federal government to do its job, including labeling fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction and increasing the amount of federal prosecutions and enforcement activity.
Focus on Rapidly Increasing Workforce Participation
Fixing the workforce participation rate problem needs to be a top priority for our next Governor. For far too long, West Virginia has maintained the lowest workforce participation rate in the country. Some statistics suggest West Virginia may have over 65,000 jobs available, yet many of those jobs go unfilled for long stretches of time. As Governor, Morrisey will unleash an aggressive strategy to ensure that more people know about these open positions, and regulatory, financial, licensing, or other barriers are eliminated to make it easier to fill these slots.
One way of improving workforce participation will be to increase dramatically the vo-tech educational opportunities in our state and apprenticeships and internships available for students after high school. Morrisey will build closer partnerships with employers across West Virginia to develop a feeder system for employment after high school, which will also help send a message to our youth: there is no reason to leave West Virginia to find a job. West Virginia needs more plumbers, contractors, electricians, truckers, and individuals in a wide variety of fields who would benefit from vo-tech education.
Broad Review of Executive Branch and State Agency Structure to Ensure Basic Needs of Law Enforcement, Corrections, Foster Care, and Essential Agencies
If you are going to have a state agency exist, then it needs to be run the right way and managed effectively with proper resources. When a state function has 70 percent of its jobs open, state government must step in and make some hard choices. Is this a problem that can be resolved under antiquated state laws or can the state government better resolve the problem by changing the laws or recruiting the private sector for assistance? We must improve oversight of executive agencies and ensure that the state’s focus on workforce participation also includes attracting people to fill critical state government roles in the areas of law enforcement, corrections, foster care, and other essential areas. This means taking a close look at PEIA and once again ensuring that our state’s ability to pay its own workers is competitive with other states that we touch.
Health Care
Before becoming Attorney General, Patrick Morrisey was a long-time accomplished health care attorney who developed innovative and dynamic policies to address health care access, affordability, cost, and innovation challenges. As Attorney General, Morrisey has been a leading advocate against fraudulent, wasteful, and abusive practices that harm our citizens. As Governor, Morrisey will establish a new Task Force to evaluate and recommend changes to the health care systems in our state and ensure that West Virginians have affordable health care policies and access to the healthcare items and services they deserve.
Morrisey plans to bring a number of these changes about by eliminating West Virginia’s certificate of need laws, and other policies which makes it difficult for new healthcare providers to locate in our state. Promoting freedom must also mean ending the protectionist policies which restrict competition and innovation. Our nation is in a period of great technological advancement; we can’t afford to be held back as a state by antiquated policies that block competition. Morrisey has been a champion of expanding telemedicine access as Attorney General; he will work to eliminate even more regulatory barriers to telemedicine services as Governor.
Save Small Businesses
West Virginia’s economy is powered by our small businesses. However, “Bidenomics”-caused inflation and increased regulatory pressures have tremendously hurt small businesses in West Virginia. It’s simple — the far-left’s radical agenda favors woke corporations at the expense of Mom and Pop shops and the middle class. We need a leader who will promote economic development and discard overbearing regulations to allow a level-playing field that makes it easier for small business to enter the marketplace.
More Information
Wikipedia
Contents
Patrick James Morrisey (born December 21, 1967) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 37th governor of West Virginia since 2025. He served as the 34th attorney general of West Virginia from 2013 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected state attorney general in 2012, becoming the first Republican in the role since 1933.[1] Morrisey ran for the United States Senate in 2018 and narrowly lost to incumbent Senator Joe Manchin.[2]
Morrisey was elected governor in 2024, defeating Democratic nominee Steve Williams in a landslide. He is the first Republican elected to a first term since Arch A. Moore Jr. in 1968.
Early life and education
Born in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Morrisey grew up in Edison, New Jersey. His father was an account manager at U.S. Steel, while his mother worked as a registered nurse.[3] Morrisey ran cross-country and played on his high school’s tennis team, before he graduated from the St. Thomas Aquinas High School / Bishop George Ahr High School in 1985.[3][4]
Morrisey graduated with honors from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in history and political science in 1989.[5] He also attended Rutgers School of Law–Newark, receiving his juris doctor in 1992.[6][1]
Career in politics, law, and lobbying
Morrisey was active in Republican politics in New Jersey early in life; he worked on George Bush‘s presidential campaign in 1988 and Cary Edwards‘ gubernatorial campaign in 1989, and was press secretary of Christine Todd Whitman‘s U.S. Senate campaign in 1990.[7]
After graduating from Rutgers, Morrisey lived in Westfield, New Jersey, and opened a private law firm in 1992. From 1995 to 1999, he practiced health care, election, regulatory and communications law at Arent Fox, a national white shoe law and lobbying firm.
From 1999 to 2004, Morrisey served as deputy staff director and chief health counsel for the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce, where he worked on the passage of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act and the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (establishing Medicare Part D).[8] In 2000, he ran for the United States House of Representatives in New Jersey’s 7th congressional district, receiving 9% of the vote in the Republican primary.[9] Morrisey opposed abortion with exceptions and faced fierce opposition from anti-abortion leaders and groups in the district.
From 2004 to 2012, Morrisey worked as a lawyer in Washington, D.C.[10] He was a partner at the corporate law firm Sidley Austin before joining King & Spalding, where he became a partner.[11] As a lobbyist, he was viewed as an expert on health and drug-related regulations and legislation.[11][12][13] He was paid $250,000 to lobby on behalf of a pharmaceutical trade group[14] funded by some of the same opioid distributors West Virginia sued for flooding the state with opioids.[14]
Attorney General
In 2012, Morrisey ran for Attorney General of West Virginia against Darrell McGraw, a five-term incumbent.[11] He defeated McGraw and was sworn in on January 14, 2013, making him West Virginia’s first Republican state attorney general since 1933.[15]
Federal lawsuits
DEA opioid lawsuit
Morrisey sued the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to release its data on opioid sales and the sales quota system it uses to regulate opioid manufacturers, the first such lawsuit in West Virginia history. He placed a hold on the lawsuit after successfully negotiating with the Trump administration to have the DEA reconsider whether to amend the aggregate quota system.[16]
American Farm Bureau v. EPA. On September 13, 2013, in American Farm Bureau Federation v. EPA, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania held that the EPA had the authority under the Clean Water Act to impose a total maximum daily load standard for pollutants and that the established procedures were consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act.[17] This is contrary to the argument by Morrisey’s amicus brief, which said that the “EPA’s overreach in the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TDML) infringes states’ traditional rights the Clean Water Act intended to protect.”[18]
Mingo Logan Coal v. EPA. On March 24, 2014, in Mingo Logan Coal Company v. EPA, the Supreme Court of the United States denied the petition for writ of certiorari.[19] The Court rejected the argument in Morrisey’s brief that the “EPA unlawfully vetoed permits issued by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.”[20][21]
White Stallion v. EPA. On April 15, 2014, in White Stallion Energy Center v. EPA, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held that the EPA’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS) rule regulation of emissions from coal-fired electric generating units was appropriate and necessary and that the EPA acted within its legal authority and demonstrated a reasonable connection between its action and the record of decision.[22] The Court rejected the argument in Morrisey’s brief that the “EPA rule usurped the states’ authority by setting minimum substantive requirements for state performance standards.”[23]
Homer City v. EPA. On April 29, 2014, in EPA v. EME Homer City Generation, the U.S. Supreme Court held the EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule was a cost-effective allocation of emission reductions among upwind States and is a permissible, workable, and equitable interpretation of the Good Neighbor Provision.[24] The Court rejected the argument in Morrisey’s brief that the “EPA exceeded its authority under the federal Clean Air Act when it promulgated the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule“.[25][26]
Utility Air v. EPA. On June 23, 2014, in Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, the U.S. Supreme Court held that the EPA reasonably interpreted the Act to require sources that would need permits based on their emission of conventional pollutants to comply with Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for greenhouse gases and that EPA’s decision to require BACT for greenhouse gases emitted by sources otherwise subject to Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) review is, as a general matter, a permissible interpretation of the statute.[27] The Court rejected the argument in Morrisey’s brief that the “EPA violated the U.S. Constitution and the Clean Air Act by concocting greenhouse gas regulations” and that the court must “rein in a usurpatious agency and remind the President and his subordinates that they cannot rule by executive decree.”[28][29]
Murray Energy v. EPA. On June 25, 2014, Morrisey and other attorneys general submitted an amicus brief[30] in Murray Energy v. EPA before the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit.[31] This lawsuit was prematurely filed before EPA had issued the final standards, which were not due until June 1, 2015.[32] The D.C. Circuit had ruled on this issue in December 2012 in Las Brisas Energy Center v. EPA. The court dismissed the case with a single short sentence: “The challenged proposed rule is not final agency action subject to judicial review.”[33]
National Mining v. EPA. On July 11, 2014, in National Mining Association vs EPA, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held that the EPA and the U.S. Corps of Engineers had the statutory authority under the Clean Water Act to enact a procedure rule (Enhanced Coordination Process memorandum) to review mountaintop mining permits.[34] The Court rejected the argument in Morrisey’s brief that the “EPA was attempting to take for itself responsibilities reserved to the states and other federal agencies.”[35]
West Virginia et al. v. EPA. On July 31, 2014, Morrisey and attorneys general from other states filed a lawsuit, West Virginia et al. v. EPA,[36][37] in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit challenging a court-ordered[38] settlement on March 2, 2011, between the EPA and 11 states—New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Massachusetts—and the District of Columbia.[39] In the settlement, EPA promised to issue its now-pending rule establishing standards of performance for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from Electric Utility Steam Generating Units (EGUs). A settlement was reached based on guidance from the 2007 U.S. Supreme Court ruling Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, which held that carbon dioxide is an air pollutant subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. The attorneys general’s lawsuit was over three years late. The EPA published the proposed settlement in December 2010, and Section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act allows a 30-day period to challenge any requirements of the Clean Air Act.[40]
In Morrisey’s lawsuit against the EPA he said that the Clean Air Act “precludes EPA from directing States to establish standards of performance for any existing source for any air pollutant.”[41] The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Court disagreed, and on June 9, 2015, said it “denied the petition for review and the petition for a writ of prohibition because the proposed rule of concern is not final. The Court only claims authority to review the legality of final agency rules, not proposals.”[42]
Environmental Protection Agency
Morrisey’s office filed several lawsuits and amicus briefs challenging the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In August 2014, Morrisey filed a lawsuit, along with 11 other states, challenging the EPA’s proposal to regulate coal-fired power plants as part of then President Barack Obama‘s plan to mitigate climate change.[43] This suit resulted in a historic 2016 stay in the Supreme Court.[44]
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
In 2014, Morrisey sued the federal government, challenging regulatory changes described by the Obama administration as an administrative fix to the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).[45] The suit, State of West Virginia v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was dismissed by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in 2015.[46] Morrisey appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, which in 2016 also rejected the suit, finding that West Virginia has suffered no injury-in-fact and thus lacked standing.[47]
Clean Power Plan litigation
West Virginia et al. v. EPA (challenged draft Clean Power Plan rule). On August 1, 2014, West Virginia and 12 states filed suit to block the draft Clean Power Plan rule.[48] On June 9, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected Morrisey’s challenge to the rule, which he filed on September 3, 2014, as premature, because the rule was a draft rule, not a final rule, and had not yet been published in the Federal Register.
West Virginia et al. v. EPA (Motion for Expedition of challenge to Clean Power Plan). On October 21, 2014, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied Morrisey’s Motion for Expedition of hearing on challenge to Clean Power Plan,[49] which he filed on September 3, 2014.[50] On June 2, 2014, the EPA had released the draft Clean Power Plan.[51] On September 2, 2014, New York and 11 states had filed a petition in support of the Clean Power Plan.[52][53]
West Virginia et al. v. EPA (request for emergency stay of final Clean Power Plan rule). On September 9, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit refused to grant Morrisey’s request for an emergency stay in the Clean Power Plan.[54][55][56] On August 5, 2015, West Virginia and 12 states had requested to halt implementation of the Clean Power Plan until the courts ruled.[57] On August 13, 2015, West Virginia and other 12 states had filed a petition for an emergency stay.[58][59] On August 3, 2015, the EPA had announced the final rule for the Clean Power Plan.[60] On August 14, 2015, California and 15 states had filed a petition in support of the Clean Power Plan.[61]
West Virginia et al. v. EPA (request to deny implementation of Clean Power Plan). On January 21, 2016, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied Morrisey’s request to halt implementation of the Clean Power Plan until litigation concluded.[62] On October 23, 2015, West Virginia and 24 states had filed suit against the Clean Power Plan.[63][64] On October 23, 2015, the EPA had published the Clean Power Plan in the Federal Register.[65]
West Virginia et al. v. EPA (request to stay Clean Power Plan). January 26, 2016. West Virginia and 24 states filed suit to stay the Clean Power Plan before the U.S. Supreme Court.[66] On February 9, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay of Clean Power Plan while the case was litigated in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.[67] On March 16, 2016, New York and 19 states filed a petition in support of the Clean Power Plan.[68]
Second Amendment
Morrisey has filed several amicus briefs in lawsuits challenging Second Amendment decisions.
Kachalsky v. Cacace. On April 15, 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal in Kachalsky v. Cacace, which challenged a New York law that requires a person to show a particular need to obtain a permit to carry a firearm outside the home.[69] Morrisey and other state attorneys general had submitted a brief challenging the lower court decision, saying that the law “does not survive any level of scrutiny”.[70][71]
Drake v. Jerejian. On May 5, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal in Drake v. Jerejian, which challenged New Jersey’s requirement that concealed carry permit applicants must demonstrate a “justifiable need” to be issued a handgun carry permit.[72] Morrisey and other state attorneys general submitted a brief challenging the lower court decision saying that New Jersey’s law would “threaten” and “shake the foundation” of less restrictive gun-permitting schemes in other states.[73][74]
Abramski v. United States. On June 16, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Abramski v. United States of America that “regardless whether the actual buyer could have purchased the gun, a person who buys a gun on someone else’s behalf while falsely claiming that it is for himself makes a material misrepresentation punishable” under the law.[75] This was contrary to Morrisey’s claim that the “Department of Justice wants to ensnare innocent West Virginian gun owners in a web of criminal laws if they try to sell their guns” and that “the administration’s interpretation oversteps the law and could make criminals out of innocent citizens.”[76][77]
New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Cuomo and Connecticut Citizens’ Defense League v. Malloy. On October 19, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Cuomo and Connecticut Citizens that “The core prohibitions by New York and Connecticut of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines do not violate the Second Amendment.”[78] This was contrary to Morrisey’s and other state attorneys general’s claim that “New York’s outright prohibition of semi-automatic firearms burdens the fundamental right to keep and bear arms” and “New York’s ban of semi-automatic firearms cannot survive strict scrutiny”.[79]
Friedman v. City of Highland Park. On December 7, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of Friedman v. City of Highland Park.[80] Morrisey and other attorneys general had filed an amicus brief saying that the ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit was a “threat posed by narrow judicial construction of the Second Amendment to their citizens and policies.”[81] On April 7, 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit had dismissed Morrisey’s arguments, saying: “Assault weapons with large-capacity magazines can fire more shots, faster, and thus can be more dangerous in aggregate. Why else are they the weapons of choice in mass shootings?”[82]
Peruta v. County of San Diego. On June 9, 2016, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held in Peruta v. County of San Diego that “the Second Amendment does not preserve or protect a right of a member of the general public to carry concealed firearms in public.”[83] This was contrary to Morrisey’s and other state attorneys general’s claim that “New York’s outright prohibition of semi-automatic firearms burdens the fundamental right to keep and bear arms” and “New York’s ban of semi-automatic firearms cannot survive strict scrutiny.”[84]
Kolbe v. Hogan. In August 2017, Morrisey led a 21-state coalition to urge the Supreme Court to hear arguments against, and urging the court to strike down, a weapons ban in Maryland. His coalition argued that the ban infringed on law-abiding gun owners’ rights. The Maryland ban prohibits the sales, transfer, and possession of certain semiautomatic firearms and standard-capacity magazines. The coalition, in its brief with the Supreme Court, referred to a ruling by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that struck down the ban. If the appeals court’s decision is upheld, it would set case law that governs similar laws in West Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.[85]
Supreme Court
In January 2017, President Trump nominated Judge Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court to replace the late Antonin Scalia. The next day, Morrisey and 19 other state attorneys general sent Senate leaders a letter expressing support for Gorsuch and urging his immediate confirmation. Morrisey said he wrote the letter out of concern for the court’s impact on West Virginia residents, citing a 2016 court decision (5–4, with Scalia in the majority) to stay President Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which Morrisey believed would put people out of work.[86]
2020 presidential election intervention
On December 8, 2020, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the states of Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, where certified results showed Joe Biden had defeated Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
Morrisey signed an amicus brief led by Paxton seeking to overturn the results of the presidential election by challenging election processes in four states Trump lost. The news came after West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, who had yet to congratulate Biden for winning the presidency, said Trump called him to discuss the lawsuit. He said he encouraged Morrisey to join Paxton’s effort. “I’m sure our attorney general will make the right move”, Justice, a strong Trump supporter, said.
Secretary of State Mac Warner was the last in the nation to certify his state’s winner in the presidential race. He called the Texas lawsuit a “novel approach” and supported letting the courts decide.
Texas and 16 other state attorneys general[87][88] who supported Paxton’s challenge of the election results alleged numerous instances of unconstitutional actions in the four states’ presidential ballot tallies, arguments that had already been rejected in other state and federal courts.[89] In Texas v. Pennsylvania, Paxton asked the United States Supreme Court to invalidate the states’ 62 electoral votes, allowing Trump to be declared the winner of the election.[90] Because the suit has been characterized as a dispute between states, the Supreme Court retains original jurisdiction, though it frequently declines to hear such suits.[91] There was no evidence of consequential illegal voting in the election.[92] Paxton’s lawsuit included claims that had been tried unsuccessfully in other courts and shown to be false.[93] Officials from each of the four states said Paxton’s lawsuit recycled false and disproved claims of irregularity.[94] Legal experts and politicians sharply criticized the objections’ merit.[95][96] Election law expert Rick Hasen called the suit “the dumbest case I’ve ever seen filed on an emergency basis at the Supreme Court.”[97][98] U.S. Senator Ben Sasse said it “looks like a fella begging for a pardon filed a PR stunt”, in reference to Paxton’s securities fraud charges and abuse of office allegations.[99] On December 11, the U.S. Supreme Court quickly rejected the suit in an unsigned opinion.[100]
Political positions

West Virginia Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin has called Morissey an “ideologue” and “true believer” who is likely to push “a very aggressive conservative agenda”. State West Virginia Republican Party Chair Matt Herridge has called him as “a unifying force” for a more populist, working-class Republican Party.[101] Morrisey has said that he will not “allow the elites in the swamp to impose their values on West Virginia citizens”.[101]
Abortion
Morrisey opposes abortion[102] and joined 12 states in supporting a brief in favor of North Carolina’s 20-week abortion ban.[103] He investigated Planned Parenthood‘s activities in West Virginia[104][105] and was endorsed for the U.S. Senate by West Virginians for Life.[106] Morrisey hardened his position on abortion since his first run for Congress in New Jersey in 2000. During that race, he opposed a constitutional amendment banning abortion and supported exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.[107]
Morrisey was a staunch supporter of overturning Roe v. Wade.[108]
Economy
Morrisey has pledged to make West Virginia more economically competitive by cutting the state income tax.[101]
Education
Morrisey has defended laws creating a school voucher-esque savings account program and pledged to promote civics education and “eliminate the woke virus from the schools”.[101] He said that under him, West Virginia’s schools would be for learning, not social experiments, radical agendas, brainwashing, or “confusion about the differences between boys and girls”.[101]
Opioid addiction
Morrisey promoted a “Combating Addiction with Grace” partnership, a joint effort between law enforcement and faith leaders to combat opioid abuse.[109][110] He also focused on attempting to substitute opioids with other non-narcotics as first-treatments for pain management.[111] Morrisey asked West Virginia lawmakers to consider an “anti-retaliation” program to eliminate negative consequences inflicted on prescribers who refuse to issue opioid medications, which passed in 2018.[112]
Morrisey supported President Trump’s declaration of the opioid crisis as a national emergency.[113]
Sanctuary cities
Morrisey led a coalition of state attorneys general in defending the right of states to prohibit sanctuary cities within their borders. A unanimous federal appeals court decision found in favor of the states.[114]
Guns
Morrisey has A+ ratings from the NRA Political Victory Fund and the West Virginia Citizen’s Defense League.[115] He secured reciprocity agreements with other states, making their concealed carry licenses valid in West Virginia and vice versa.[116]
LGBTQ issues
Morrisey advocated a 2021 law prohibiting transgender athletes from competing in West Virginia and repeatedly defended it in court as attorney general.[101] He has said he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review rulings that found the state’s refusal to cover certain health care for transgender people discriminatory.[101]
Immigration
In July 2017, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton led a group of Republican attorneys general from nine other states, including Morrisey, plus Idaho Governor Butch Otter, in threatening the Donald Trump administration to litigate if Trump did not terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy that President Barack Obama had put in place.[117][118] On September 5, 2017, Trump rescinded DACA. He delayed implementation for six months to allow Congress the time to legislate a solution for young people eligible for DACA. Morrisey said: “I applaud President Trump for having the courage of his convictions to uphold the rule of law and stop this Obama-era program. DACA was unconstitutional and represented an unlawful, unilateral action by the Obama administration.”[119]
In June 2018, Morrisey was among Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate seeking blame the Trump administration family separation policy on their Democratic opponents. He criticized Joe Manchin for supporting the “Keep Families Together Act” authored by Dianne Feinstein, arguing that Manchin was “putting the interest of illegal immigrant criminals and the agenda of liberal Washington elites ahead of West Virginia families.”[120]
Drug companies
In 2013, questions arose about Morrisey’s ties to Cardinal Health, his campaign funds, and the ongoing lawsuit against Cardinal Health. After Morrisey said he had recused himself from the suit, he met privately on several occasions with representatives of the company.[121] Eventually, Cardinal Health settled a lawsuit brought by the state attorney general’s office by paying a $20,000,000 fine for violating consumer protection laws.[122]
In 2016, Morrisey ended a lawsuit against Miami-Luken, a drug firm that sold excessive and suspicious amounts of opioids to small towns across West Virginia, after the firm paid $2.5 million to settle.[123] According to The Charleston Gazette, “Morrisey, a former lobbyist for a trade group that represents Miami-Luken and other drug distributors, inherited the lawsuit in 2013 after ousting longtime Attorney General Darrell McGraw.”[123] It was the largest settlement against pharmaceutical companies in West Virginia history.[124]
Vaccination
Morrisey issued an executive order to allow families to seek religious exemptions from school vaccine requirements.[101][125]
Sex trafficking
In 2017, Morrisey joined a coalition of 50 state and territorial attorneys general in pushing Congress to pass legislation that would affirm that all law enforcement agencies retain their traditional authority to fight sex trafficking. In a letter to Congress, the group asked to amend the Communications Decency Act to legally confirm that states, localities, and territories retain authority to investigate and prosecute child sex trafficking criminals wherever they operate, including online.[126]
DEI
Morrisey has said he supports eliminating all vestiges of DEI policies and continuing to “stomp out woke”.[101] He issued an executive order to terminate all DEI initiatives by state-run institutions. The order said it would protect West Virginians from racial and gender discrimination, especially “inappropriate” preferential treatment for certain groups.[125]
2018 U.S. Senate election
On July 10, 2017, Morrisey announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat held by Joe Manchin.[127][128] During the Republican primary, he presented himself as an outsider, in contrast to Representative Evan Jenkins.[10] Jenkins and Don Blankenship attacked Morrisey for his career as a lobbyist.[10] Amid the criticism of his lobbying career, as well as his wife’s lobbying career, the Morrisey campaign pledged that his wife would stop lobbying if Morrisey were elected to the Senate.[10] On May 8, 2018, Morrisey defeated Jenkins and Blankenship in the primary with more than 34% of the vote (47,571 votes).[129][130]
In general election, Manchin defeated Morrisey with 49.6% of the vote to Morrisey’s 46.3%. Libertarian candidate Rusty Hollen received 4.2%.[131]
Governor of West Virginia (2025–present)
On April 4, 2023, Morrisey announced his candidacy for governor of West Virginia in the 2024 election.[132] He defeated State Delegate Moore Capito in the Republican primary[133] and Democratic nominee Stephen T. Williams, the mayor of Huntington, West Virginia, in the general election.[134]
On January 13, 2025, Morrisey was sworn in as governor of West Virginia.[135] On March 17, he spoke out against the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) for omitting West Virginia from its men’s basketball tournament. He placed a sign on his podium that read “National Corrupt Athletic Association” and called the NCAA’s decision “a miscarriage of justice and robbery at the highest levels”. Morrisey said he would investigate the NCAA and consider suing it.[136]
As Governor, Morrisey pushed for legislation that would allow parents to avoid mandatory vaccines for their children on religious grounds.[137] In March 2025, the West Virginia legislature failed to pass legislation that would have given people that vaccine exemption.[137]
Personal life
Morrisey moved to Jefferson County, West Virginia in 2006.[138][139] His wife, Denise Henry Morrisey, is a founding partner at a lobbying firm, Capitol Counsel.[140][141] Morrisey has a stepdaughter.[142]
Electoral history
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Mike Ferguson | 10,504 | 42.54 | |
Republican | Tom Kean Jr. | 6,838 | 27.69 | |
Republican | Joel Weingarten | 5,115 | 20.71 | |
Republican | Patrick Morrisey | 2,237 | 9.06 | |
Total votes | 24,794 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Patrick Morrisey | 329,854 | 51.24 | |
Democratic | Darrell McGraw Jr. (incumbent) | 313,830 | 48.76 | |
Total votes | 643,684 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Patrick Morrisey (incumbent) | 358,424 | 51.63 | |
Democratic | Doug Reynolds | 291,232 | 41.95 | |
Libertarian | Karl Kolenich | 24,023 | 3.46 | |
Mountain | Michael Sharley | 20,475 | 2.95 | |
Total votes | 694,154 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Patrick Morrisey | 48,007 | 34.90 | |
Republican | Evan Jenkins | 40,185 | 29.21 | |
Republican | Don Blankenship | 27,478 | 19.97 | |
Republican | Thomas Willis | 13,540 | 9.84 | |
Republican | Bo Copley | 4,248 | 3.09 | |
Republican | Jack Newbrough | 4,115 | 2.99 | |
Total votes | 137,573 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Joe Manchin | 290,510 | 49.57 | |
Republican | Patrick Morrisey | 271,113 | 46.26 | |
Libertarian | Rusty Hollen | 24,411 | 4.17 | |
Total votes | 586,034 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Patrick Morrisey | 487,250 | 63.77 | |
Democratic | Sam Brown Petsonk | 276,798 | 36.23 | |
Total votes | 764,048 | 100.0 |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | Patrick Morrisey | 459,300 | 61.99 | |
Democratic | Stephen T. Williams | 233,976 | 31.58 | |
Libertarian | Erika Kolenich | 21,288 | 2.87 | |
Constitution | S. Marshall Wilson | 16,828 | 2.27 | |
Mountain | Chase Linko-Looper | 9,596 | 1.30 | |
Write-in | 10 | 0.0 | ||
Total votes | 740,998 | 100.0 |
References
- ^ a b “Meet the Attorney General”. West Virginia Attorney General. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
- ^ Simone Pathé (May 8, 2018). “Patrick Morrisey Wins West Virginia GOP Senate Primary”. Roll Call.
- ^ a b Zack Harold (January 25, 2013). “Meet Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia’s new attorney general”. Charleston Daily Mail. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ^ Staff. “D.C. Law Firm Names Morrisey as Partner”, The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood Times, March 11, 2004. Accessed July 4, 2018. “The former Westfield resident grew up in Edison, where he graduated from Bishop Ahr/St. Thomas Aquinas High School.”
- ^ Chris Dickerson (April 13, 2012). “Morrisey proposes ethics overhaul”. West Virginia Record.
- ^ “January — June 2012”. Rutgers School of Law–Newark. May 22, 2013.
- ^ Paul J. Peyton (June 1, 2000). “Mr. Morrisey Feels Washington Experience Puts Him in Excellent Position for Upset”. The Westfield Leader and The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2013 – via goleader.com.
- ^ Andrea Lannom (January 25, 2013). “New role as WV attorney general marries Morrisey’s passions”. State Journal. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
- ^ Peyton, Paul J.; Stalker, Suzette & Johnson, Brian. “Ferguson Tops Kean to Win GOP Congressional Primary” (PDF). Westfield Leader. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 30, 2020. Retrieved May 22, 2013 – via goleader.com.
- ^ a b c d “Morrisey under fire in W.Va. over lobbyist past”. Politico. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ^ a b c “Morrisey files to run for AG”. West Virginia Record. January 28, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- ^ “West Virginia AG Seizes on ESG Wars With Eye on Higher Office”. news.bloomberglaw.com. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ Meyer, Theodoric (May 3, 2018). “Morrisey under fire in W.Va. over lobbyist past”. POLITICO. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ a b Jim Axelrod; Ashley Velie (June 2, 2016). “West Virginia AG’s past work with drug companies questioned”. CBS News. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ^ Patrick Morrisey (November 16, 2012). “Patrick Morrisey”. The Register-Herald. Beckley, West Virginia.
- ^ “Morrisey suspends challenge of ‘broken’ DEA drug quota system”. March 2018.
- ^ “American Farm Bureau v. EPA Decision”, U.S. District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania. September 13, 2013. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “American Farm Bureau v. EPA Brief of the States” Archived April 17, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Kansas et al. February 3, 2014. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “March 24, 2014 Order List”, US Supreme Court. March 24, 2014. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “Mingo Logan Coal Company v. EPA Brief of the States” Archived August 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, West Virginia et al. December 16, 2013. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “Morrisey, 26 other AGs come to support of mining company”. Charleston Gazette. December 18, 2013. Retrieved August 17, 2014.
- ^ “White Stallion Energy Center v. EPA Decision” Archived August 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. April 15, 2014. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “White Stallion Energy Center v. EPA Brief of State, Industry, and Labor Petitioners”, Utility Air Regulatory Group et al. March 25, 2013. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “EPA v. EME Homer City Generation Decision”, U.S. Supreme Court. April 29, 2014. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “EPA v. EME Homer City Generation Decision Brief of the States”, West Virginia et al. November 7, 2013. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “W.Va. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey Leads Bipartisan Group in Supreme Court Brief Opposing Cross-State Air Pollution Regulations” Archived August 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, West Virginia et al. November 7, 2013. Accessed August 17, 2014.
- ^ “Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA Decision”, U.S. Supreme Court. June 23, 2014. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA Brief of the States”, Kansas et al. December 16, 2013. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “U.S. SC to hear challenge to EPA’s greenhouse gas regulations”, West Virginia Record. October 16, 2013. Accessed August 17, 2014.
- ^ “Murray Energy v. EPA Brief of the States” Archived August 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, West Virginia et al. June 25, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2014.
- ^ “Murray Energy files lawsuit against EPA to prohibit coal-fired power plant regulations” Archived August 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Murray Energy v. EPA. June 18, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2014.
- ^ “Section 111 of the CAA: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Power Plants”, Environmental Protection Agency. February 20, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2014.
- ^ “Las Brisas Energy Center v. EPA” Archived April 25, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit. December 13, 2012. Accessed August 21, 2014.
- ^ “National Mining Association vs EPA Decision” Archived August 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. July 11, 2014. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “West Virginia must win its fight against overreach”, West Virginia Record. August 23, 2013. Accessed August 16, 2014.
- ^ “West Virginia et al v. EPA” Archived November 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, West Virginia et al. July 31, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2014.
- ^ “WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey files new lawsuit” Archived August 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, West Virginia State Journal. August 1, 2014. Accessed August 21, 2014.
- ^ “New York et al. v. EPA”, United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit. September 24, 2007. Accessed August 21, 2014.
- ^ “Settlement Agreement” Archived August 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, New York et al and EPA. March 2, 1011. Accessed August 21, 2014.
- ^ “Clean Air Act. Title I. Air Pollution Prevention and Control.”, Environmental Protection Agency. February 24, 2004. Accessed August 21, 2014.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA” Archived June 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, West Virginia et al., August 1, 2014. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA” Archived June 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Court, June 9, 2015. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ Davenport, Coral (August 1, 2014). “A Dozen States File Suit Against New Coal Rules”. The New York Times. Retrieved August 4, 2014.
- ^ John Raby (March 26, 2016). “Rising GOP star in West Virginia fight for coal against EPA”. Business Insider. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ “West Virginia Attorney General Suing White House Over Obamacare”. Washington, D.C.: WUSA (TV). Associated Press. July 30, 2014.
- ^ John Kennedy, W.Va. Appeals Ruling It Can’t Sue Feds Over ACA Rule Fix, Law360 (November 6, 2015).
- ^ State of West Virginia, ex rel. Patrick Morrisey, Appellant v. United States Department of Health and Human Services, Appellee (July 1, 2016).
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA Challenge to Clean Power Plan”, West Virginia Attorney General. August 1, 2014. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA denial by DC Circuit”, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. October 21, 2014. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA Motion for Expedition”, West Virginia Attorney General. September 3, 2014. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “EPA releases draft Clean Power Plan”, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. June 2, 2014. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA _ New York and 11 states support Clean Power Plan” Archived February 22, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Columbia Law Review. September 2, 2014. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA – DC Circuit rejects premature challenge to Clean Power Plan”, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. June 9, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA – DC Circuit Denies Emergency Stay”, Environmental Defense Fund. September 9, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA – DC Circuit Order Denying Writs”, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. September 9, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA – DC Circuit Order Denying Rehearing En Banc”, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. September 9, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia and 12 states request halt to Clean Power Plan” Archived September 16, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, West Virginia State Journal. August 5, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA Emergency Petition for Extraordinary Writ”, West Virginia Attorney General. August 13, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “WV AG Morrisey ask court to intervene in Clean Power Plan” Archived September 16, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, West Virginia State Journal. August 13, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “EPA announces final rule for Clean Power Plan”, Environmental Defense Fund. August 3, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA – Opposition brief by California et al”, California et al. August 14, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA – DC Circuit order denying stay motions”, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. January 21, 2016. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA Motion of Stay and Expedited Consideration”, West Virginia Attorney General. August 1, 2014. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA Petition for Review”, West Virginia Attorney General. August 1, 2014. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “EPA publishes Clean Power Plan in Federal Register”, U.S. News and World Report. October 23, 2015. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA request to stay Clean Power Plan”, West Virginia Attorney General. January 26, 2016. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ ” West Virginia et al. v. EPA – Supreme Court grants stay in Clean Power Plan”, U.S. Supreme Court. February 9, 2016. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “West Virginia et al. v. EPA – New York and 19 states support Clean Power Plan”, West Virginia Attorney General. March 16, 2016. Accessed July 7, 2016.
- ^ “Kachalsky v. Cacace”, SCOTUSblog. April 15, 2013. Accessed August 17, 2013.
- ^ “Attorney General Morrisey Files Brief in Gun Case Pending Before U.S. Supreme Court” Archived August 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Office of the WV Attorney General. February 14, 2013. Accessed August 17, 2013.
- ^ “Kachalsky v. Cacace Brief of the States”, Commonwealth of Virginia et al. February 11, 2013. Accessed August 17, 2013.
- ^ “Drake v. Jerejian”, SCOTUSblog. May 5, 2014. Accessed August 17, 2013.
- ^ “Drake v. Jerejian Brief of the States”, Wyoming et al. February 14, 2014. Accessed August 17, 2013.
- ^ “Attorney General Patrick Morrisey Joins 18 Other States in Defending Second Amendment” Archived August 19, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, Office of the WV Attorney General. February 18, 2014. Accessed August 17, 2013.
- ^ “Abramski v. United States of America” Archived August 12, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Supreme Court. June 16. 2014. Accessed August 17, 2013.
- ^ Territories-in-Supreme-Court-Brief-Supporting-Citizens%E2%80%99-Rights-to-Buy,-Sell-Guns-.aspx “WV Leads 27 States, Territories in Supreme Court Brief Supporting Citizens’ Rights to Buy, Sell Guns”[permanent dead link ], Office of the WV Attorney General. December 4, 2013. Accessed August 17, 2013.
- ^ “Abramski v. United States of America Brief of the States”, West Virginia et al. December 3, 2013. Accessed August 17, 2013.
- ^ “New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Cuomo and Connecticut Citizens”, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. October 19, 2015. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ “Amicus Brief of Alabama, Alaska, etc”, Alabama, Alaska, etc. May 6, 2014. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ “Friedman v. City of Highland Park”, U.S. Supreme Court, December 7, 2015. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ “Friedman v. City of Highland Park amici curiae brief by West Virginia and 23 other states” Archived December 23, 2016, at the Wayback Machine, U.S. Supreme Court, August 28, 2015. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ “Friedman v. City of Highland Park”, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, April 7, 2015. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ “Peruta v. County of San Diego”, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. June 9, 2016. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ “Amicus Brief of Alabama, Alaska, etc”, Alabama, Alaska, etc. April 30, 2015. Accessed June 14, 2016.
- ^ Dickerson, Chris. “Morrisey leads coalition in U.S. Supreme Court filing on gun rights”. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
- ^ Morrisey, Patrick (February 13, 2017). “A justice who will fight for West Virginians”. West Virginia Record. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ West Virginia backs Texas effort to invalidate Biden’s win, Associated Press. Cuenyt Dil, December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Missouri, Kansas sign onto lawsuit seeking to overturn presidential election, Kansas City Star, Bryan Lowry, December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Trump thought courts were key to winning. Judges disagreed, Associated Press, Coleen Long and Ed White, December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
- ^ “Trump thought courts were key to winning. Judges disagreed”. AP NEWS. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Liptak, Adam (December 8, 2020). “Texas files an audacious suit with the Supreme Court challenging the election results”. The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Platoff, Emma (December 8, 2020). “In new lawsuit, Texas contests election results in Georgia, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania”. The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ “‘Publicity stunt’: AGs in battleground states blast Texas counterpart for challenging Biden’s win”. NBC News. December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Lindell, Chuck. “Ken Paxton asks Supreme Court to block Joe Biden victory in 4 battleground states”. Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ “17 states, and Trump, join Texas request for Supreme Court to overturn Biden wins in four states”. Dallas News. December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Liptak, Adam (December 8, 2020). “Texas files an audacious suit with the Supreme Court challenging the election results”. The New York Times. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ “Trump and his GOP loyalists seek to pile on Supreme Court election challenge”. ABC News. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Phillips, Amber (December 11, 2020). “Why the Texas lawsuit to overturn the 2020 election may be the most outlandish effort yet”. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Platoff, Emma (December 10, 2020). “With election lawsuit, Ken Paxton — like Donald Trump — makes a Hail Mary play”. The Texas Tribune. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election, New York Times, December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i “West Virginia’s conservative shift could sharpen under its new governor”. AP News. January 13, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ “Patrick Morrisey on Abortion”. Ontheissues.org. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ “WV AG’s office says it’s coming to the defense of NC’s abortion law”. Wsaz.com. December 3, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2018.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ “High court’s abortion ruling could block targeting of WV’s two clinics | Politics”. West Virginia Gazette Mail. July 3, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ “AG Morrisey: Investigate Planned Parenthood in W.Va. | News”. Cumberland Times-News. Cumberland, Maryland. September 27, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ “Political Helps”. West Virginians for Life. October 21, 2017. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ “PolitiFact – Did Patrick Morrisey once support abortion rights?”.
- ^ “Roe v. Wade: How striking down ruling could impact abortion laws in DMV”. FOX 5 DC. May 4, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
- ^ “Attorney General Morrisey, Faith Leaders to Tackle Opioid Abuse in Logan County”. WVNS-TV. January 18, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ “Second ‘Kids Kick Opioids’ contest launches | News, Sports, Jobs”. The Intermountain. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ “Morrisey announces comprehensive approach to opioid epidemic”. West Virginia MetroNews. May 17, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ “Attorney General commends passage of provision of Opioid Reduction Act | News”. Register-Herald. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ Dickerson, Chris. “State leaders praise Trump’s declaration of national emergency in opioid crisis”. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
- ^ “Attorney General Morrisey Leads Coalition in Victory Against Sanctuary Cities”. WVNS-TV. March 14, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ “NRA Endorses Patrick Morrisey for U.S. Senate”. nrapvf.org. NRA-PVF. September 10, 2018. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018.
…the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) today endorsed Patrick Morrisey to represent West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
- ^ “Patrick Morrisey on Gun Control”. Ontheissues.org. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ Texas leads 10 states in urging Trump to end Obama-era immigration program, Texas Tribune, Julián Aguilar, June 29, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
- ^ SPLC denounces letter from 10 Attorneys General seeking “cruel and heartless” repeal of DACA, Southern Poverty Law Center, June 30, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
- ^ Dickerson, Chris (September 6, 2017). “Morrisey, Jenkins both praise Trump’s decision to rescind DACA”. West Virginia Record. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ “Some GOP Senate hopefuls betting on Trump’s immigration gamble”. ABC News. June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 29, 2018.
- ^ “| Despite recusal, Morrisey met with drug firm about lawsuit”. Wvgazette.com. October 12, 2013. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ^ Higham, Scott; Lenny Bernstein (March 9, 2017). “Opioid distributors sued by West Virginia counties hit by drug crisis”. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ a b Eric Eyre. “Drug firms shipped 20.8M pain pills to WV town with 2,900 people”. Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ Dickerson, Chris (February 6, 2018). “Jenkins says Morrisey has conflict of interest about opioids”. West Virginia Record. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
- ^ a b “West Virginia governor axes DEI and enacts vaccine exemptions on first full day in office”. AP News. January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
- ^ Dickerson, Chris. “Morrisey, other AGs ask Congress to amend sex trafficking law”. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
- ^ “West Virginia AG Patrick Morrisey Will Run for Senate in 2018” (PDF). www.usnews.com. July 10, 2017.
- ^ Kamisar, Ben (November 16, 2016). “10 Senate seats that could flip in 2018”. The Hill. Retrieved November 17, 2016.
- ^ Gaudiano, Nicole (May 8, 2018). “Morrisey beats Blankenship, Jenkins in West Virginia’s GOP primary”. USA Today. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
- ^ “United States Senate election in West Virginia, 2018”.
- ^ “West Virginia U.S. Senate Election Results”. New York Times. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
- ^ “West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey announces bid for governor | CNN Politics”. CNN. April 4, 2023.
- ^ https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2024/05/morrisey-narrowly-beats-capito-in-gop-primary-for-governor/
- ^ https://apnews.com/article/governor-west-virginia-patrick-morrisey-steve-williams-fe02206b30df78b1ffd83ddf39adf6a1
- ^ https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/video-gov-patrick-morriseys-inauguration-speech/video_8c2c3d3c-01e5-5be0-bc3f-92e218bc11ff.html
- ^ https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/west-virginia-governor-calls-for-investigation-over-ncaa-tournament-snub-robbery-at-the-highest-levels/
- ^ a b Kersey, Lori (March 24, 2025). “West Virginia House rejects vaccine exemption bill, a priority for Morrisey • West Virginia Watch”. West Virginia Watch.
- ^ “Morrisey mounts campaign to garner Republican nomination to run against Manchin”. Bluefield Daily Telegraph. July 13, 2017. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
- ^ Dickerson, Chris (October 31, 2012). “AG hopefuls battle to the end”. West Virginia Record.
- ^ https://capitolcounsel.com/team/denise-morrisey/
- ^ https://www.100daysinappalachia.com/2018/03/a-closer-look-at-patrick-morriseys-family-ties-to-big-pharma/
- ^ https://www.thewellnews.com/uncategorized/wv-senate-patrick-morrissey/
- ^ WV Election Night Reporting, June 28, 2018.
- ^ Gazette-Mail, Charleston. “Election Results – WV – US and State”. Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
- ^ “November 5, 2024 General Election Official Results”. results.enr.clarityelections.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
- ^ “2024 General Election Write-in Candidate Results” (PDF). sos.wv.gov. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved December 30, 2024.
External links
- Official Attorney General website
- Official campaign website Archived May 12, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
- Appearances on C-SPAN