But after two contentious legislative sessions, Morrisey has no qualms with throwing his executive weight behind his GOP model of choice, publicly supporting the Republican primary challenger of an incumbent state senator.

Taking to X on Tuesday, Morrisey noted that he will be “making a series of endorsements� ahead of the Republican primary, and “will be pressing for the election of a number of fresh faces to the House and Senate.�

‘The gentleman from New Jersey’

At the conclusion of the 2026 legislative session, and much as he did in 2025, Morrisey declared the session a success for his administration. And while several key components of his agenda — such as religious exemptions for vaccinations and a 10% income tax reduction — were shot down by his fellow Republicans, Morrisey nonetheless borrowed a page from the playbook of President Donald Trump by claiming victory.

In a video message released April 14, 2025, Morrisey said, “Big finish to the legislative session on Saturday night, and I’m pleased to report that we had virtually all of our agenda items passed into law.� This statement came despite butting heads with some Republican lawmakers regarding the existence of the $400 million budget deficit Morrisey claimed to have inherited.

Another sticking point during the 2025 legislative session was Morrisey’s push for data centers as part of his proposed “Power Generation and Consumption Act.� Morrisey refused to meet with Sen. Rupie Phillips, R-Logan, to discuss the bill, prompting Phillips to refer to the governor as “the gentleman from New Jersey,� a moniker which has followed him into his second year in office.

In response to Phillips, former Morrisey communications director Alex Lanfranconi took to X, writing, “The gentleman [Phillips] from Logan was a Democrat the entire Obama Administration. If anyone is out of place in the conservative state of West Virginia, it sure as hell isn’t the governor.�

That contention carried over into 2026, when House of Delegates Finance Committee Chair Vernon Criss, R-Wood, found himself at odds with Morrisey; referring to the governor’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal as being “unconstitutional because [Morrisey] actually spent more money than he had revenue for.�

Similar to Phillips’ situation a year prior, Criss said he had not spoken to Morrisey about the budget, noting that, “[Morrisey] has never darkened the door of the vice chairman or myself.�

It was, however, Morrisey who fired the first shot in the war of words with Criss. A full week prior to Criss expressing constitutional concerns with Morrisey’s proposed budget, the governor took to X, saying, “Tax cuts and school choice used to be page one of the Republican platform — guess House Finance Chair Vernon Criss hasn’t gotten that far.�

The Eleventh Commandment

Despite his affinity for President Ronald Reagan’s famous “shining city on a hill� analogy — which Morrisey adapted several times when referring to West Virginia as “that shining state in the mountains�— Morrisey has largely ignored Reagan’s “Eleventh Commandment,� which directs GOP members to refrain from personal attacks against their fellow Republicans.

While Reagan used the Eleventh Commandment to great success on his way to victory in the 1966 California GOP primary, Morrisey was considerably less diplomatic during his own 2024 primary victory. In a crowded field that included not only Morrisey and Capito, but also former West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner and Chris Miller, son of Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., Morrisey’s narrow victory came with the support of just 33% of Republican voters.

Bipartisan attacks

Morrisey began attacking his political enemies early in 2026, starting with his Jan. 30 post regarding Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio. Morrisey’s post came immediately following Fluharty’s announcement that he would be challenging for the state senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Laura Chapman, R-Ohio.

Taking to X, Morrisey wrote, “The race between conservative State Senator Laura Chapman and radical lefty Shawn Fluharty will be one of the defining races in the WV state senate this year.

“We don’t need a Bernie bro in the WV Senate — such a clear difference between these two candidates,� Morrisey’s post continued. “Common sense conservatism versus lefty extremism.�

Morrisey’s post also served as an unofficial general election endorsement of Chapman, who faces a primary challenger of her own in the form of Republican Joe Eddy. Chapman was quick to capitalize on Morrisey’s comment.

Taking to X herself on Jan. 31, Chapman stated, “The Great Governor is right about what is at stake in this election. Thank you for your support!�

Chapman supported Morrisey’s plan to lift the statewide ban on religious exemptions to vaccinations through 2025’s Senate Bill 460, which she co-sponsored. It passed the Senate, but did not pass the House. Chapman was a strong ally in Morrisey’s push to fully fund the Hope Scholarship in 2026, having been present during several House Finance Committee meetings to show her support for the plan.

Senate District 10

A colleague of Chapman’s who has been significantly less supportive of Morrisey’s agenda is Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier, which has resulted in Morrisey publicly supporting Deeds’ primary challenger.

Once again taking to X Tuesday in support of Deeds' primary challenger Jonathan Comer, Morrisey posted, “A group of status quo, liberal legislators have opposed our conservative, pro-Trump policies every step of the way.

"We must educate the public about the current composition of the Senate and the House and elect more change agents to public office,� Morrisey added. “Many elected legislators claim to be Republicans, but in practice are RINOs—Republicans in name only.�

In Morrisey’s X post endorsing Comer, he said, “Jonathan is authentic, a staunch supporter of our religious liberties, and a big advocate of lowering our taxes.�

During the 2025 legislative session, Deeds voted against Morrisey to allow religious exemptions to vaccination requirements.

Deeds has not responded publicly to Morrisey’s slight. In the days following Morrisey’s post, Deeds received the endorsement of the West Virginia Citizens Defense League, as well as U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va.

And while offering no official endorsement, on Thursday, former Delegate Mike Honaker, R-Greenbrier, who currently serves as inspector general of the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security, posted on his personal Facebook page a photo of himself together with Deeds.

In a lengthy caption accompanying the photo, Honaker wrote, “I’m on my personal time, on my property, on my personal cell phone sharing a picture of myself and one of the greatest men I have ever known, and that’s my friend Vince Deeds.�

Are there more Morrisey endorsements to come?

While having made no further official endorsements after backing Comer, Morrisey has re-posted on his X account campaign ads for Sen. Anne Charnock, R-Kanawha. Morrisey appointed Charnock to the state senate in 2025, filling the seat vacated by former Sen. Eric Nelson. Nelson now serves as a member of Morrisey’s cabinet.

And as the Republican primary is now closed to independent voters, Morrisey’s endorsement has the potential to make a more significant impact than it may have in previous years.

Early voting in West Virginia begins on April 29, and the primary election is May 12.