MARTINSBURG, W.Va. (WSAZ) – In his victory speech in Martinsburg, West Virginia, Republican Attorney General and governor-elect Patrick Morrisey said Tuesday night was a time to celebrate, and Wednesday was time to get back to work.

“I’m getting ready for a pretty busy stretch,” he told WSAZ.

Morrisey defeated Democratic Huntington Mayor Steve Williams in the gubernatorial race.

When asked how he’ll be spending the next couple of months leading up to the inauguration as he closes out his last term as AG, Morrisey said, “I want to make sure there’s a good transition for the auditor who will be coming in. Congratulations to JB McCuskey. We’re going to help him out and finish out our AG work. Then we’ll have a transition. The beautiful part about that is everyone will have a chance to participate. We’re going to come up with a website where people can submit ideas and resumes and weigh in.”

He says on Day One of his administration, a priority will be starting an economic competition with states West Virginia touches.

“We’ll be rolling out a pretty aggressive series of announcements on regulations and policies that affect state government,” he said. “We’re analyzing which pieces can be done directly by the governor and which will require legislative approval.”

Morrisey, who’s 56, moved to the Eastern Panhandle from New Jersey in 2006.

He says his victory is a signal that people in counties who’ve felt left out of the decision-making process will have a voice.

Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.

CABELL COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Across Southern West Virginia, crews have been responding to multiple brush fires. Division of Forestry officials confirm that the fire along the 4200 block of Big Seven Mile Road is contained.

“Its not one of worst, but it is one of the larger fires we have had this season,” Cabell County Forester Craig Elswick said.

According to fire officials, the estimated 50 acres brush fire started along the 4200 block of Big Seven Mile Road and has spread due to dry conditions, the low humidity, and the ongoing drought.

Multiple fire agencies across West Virginia and Ohio have helped to contain it.

One homeowner told WSAZ’S Abbey Lord that he returned from a hunting trip to see the burning — and has been crying so hard that watching his property burn made him realize to not to take anything for granted.

Officials say there have been no injuries reported.

Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.

As Cabell County voters took to the polls Tuesday morning, they had various issues and races on their minds.

Maggi Anderson, of Barboursville, West Virginia, said reproductive rights were her primary issue.

“The most important issue for me is women’s rights,” Anderson said. “I feel as a woman of any age, this should be one of the most important things in this election today.”

For her, Anderson said, voting was a way to fight for women’s futures while honoring those who came before her.

“Fighting for not only our rights as women right now,” Anderson said. “But like I said, the women that are going to come after us and to honor the women that came before us.”

Gina Milum, the Democratic candidate for House District 27, of Huntington, said reproductive rights were also one of her top issues.

“First and foremost, I have been activated by reproductive rights,” Milum said. “Even though my reproductive years are long in my rearview mirror, I have two daughters and six granddaughters. It’s an important thing to me.”

Debra La Pierre Sospe, of Milton, said her top issues included the economy, cost of living and homelessness.

She also said she wanted to “bring the Lord back in our country, starting with our schools and the home.”

She said her motivation mainly stemmed from a sense of duty.

“I’ve voted since I was 18,” La Pierre Sospe said. “It’s always been my life.”

Anderson said her son was her primary motivation to cast her ballot.

“I feel like voting you have to do it for not only the people who are here right now,” Anderson said. “But for the children and the future of our country.”

She said to her, the presidential race was most important, followed by the local elections.

“First and most importantly, the presidential,” Anderson said. “The local elections are all fairly important to me.”

Milum said she wished the presidential election was closer in West Virginia.

“Of course, everybody’s biting their nails over the presidential race. I wish I felt things were closer in West Virginia,” Milum said.

Milum said she focused more on down ballot races than the presidential election.

“A lot of the down ballot races, especially the state senate, especially the House of Representatives, are very important for me to watch because people don’t realize how much either harm or good that people in those positions can do,” Milum said.

La Pierre Sospe said she looked for “truth, honesty, and love for the Lord and our country” when deciding who to vote for.

As for the Cabell County school levy, Anderson said it was not at the front of her mind.

“I don’t know much about it,” Anderson said. “It’s not one of the issues I have dove into deeply today.”

Milum lives in the portion of Huntington located in Wayne County, and cannot vote for the levy. She said she would have certainly voted yes if she was able to.

“I was 100% vote no in May,” Milum said. “Now I am 100% vote yes in November.”

Milum said she believed the pre-primary movement to strike down the levy was successful in its messaging.

“The message was sent to the past superintendent,” Milum said.  “He heard, he left, we now have new board members, we have a new superintendent, the libraries have their money, the parks have their money, and the schools have better leadership.”