CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – West Virginia Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey will be sworn in on Jan. 13, he said at a news conference Tuesday.
Morrisey, who has been West Virginia’s attorney general since 2013, addressed the media for the first time since his victory speech on Nov. 5 after winning the race against Democrat Steve Williams, the mayor of Huntington.
The 56-year-old will succeed the state’s current two-term governor, Republican Jim Justice, who is running for the U.S. Senate.
Morrisey named a few people who would be co-leaders on his transition team, including Doug Buffington, his deputy at the West Virginia attorney general’s office, and Eric Householder, majority leader of the House of Representatives.
Morrisey said he has been meeting with state lawmakers and legislative leaders to “develop a common agenda” ahead of his inauguration and the start of the new legislative session in the new year.
“We could introduce a series of bills that could be agreed upon in advance,” he said. “I’m excited to do that. And so I look forward to sitting down with them extensively to develop the agenda.”
He said “upholding the values of West Virginia” will be important to him and his administration.
“You’ve heard the word ‘woke’ before. You’ve heard the word DEI before. And those, in my opinion, are not West Virginia values. And we are not going to be a government that is going to promote these values,” he said.
Morrisey called the people of West Virginia “people of great hearts” who “want the freedom to rule all of West Virginia.”
“They care deeply about making sure their Second Amendment rights are protected,” he said. “I think they believe in the sanctity of life and they want to protect children and their parents.”
He said he would announce other people who will be part of his transition team in the coming weeks. He urged residents to submit ideas and feedback on his West Virginia Prosperity Group website.
“If you voted for me, great. Thank you,” he said. “If you didn’t vote for me, let me tell you, we’re all on team West Virginia now. The elections are over.”
