West Virginia: A New Candidate

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) had long been expected to enter the 2018 Senate campaign, and yesterday officially announced his candidacy.  Mr. Morrisey, however, must first top Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-Huntington) in the Republican primary before getting a chance to face Sen. Joe Manchin (D) next November. 
 
Mr. Morrisey was first elected to his statewide position in 2012, becoming the only Republican to win the office since the 1932 election.  He was re-elected in November with a 52-42% victory margin against Democratic state Delegate Doug Reynolds.  Morrisey makes the argument that though Rep. Jenkins criticizes Sen. Manchin for supporting President Obama, the Congressman himself did so, too, prior to him leaving the Democratic Party.  Mr. Jenkins served 16 years in the state legislature as a Democrat before switching parties in 2013, prior to entering the 2014 Republican congressional primary. ​