Patrick Morrisey facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patrick Morrisey
Morrisey in 2017
37th Governor of West Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office January 13, 2025
Lieutenant	Randy Smith
Preceded by	Jim Justice
34th Attorney General of West Virginia
In office January 14, 2013 – January 13, 2025
Governor	Earl Ray Tomblin Jim Justice
Preceded by	Darrell McGraw
Succeeded by	JB McCuskey
Personal details
Born	Patrick James Morrisey (1967-12-21) December 21, 1967 (age 57) New York City, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Denise Henry
Children	1
Residence	Governor's Mansion
Education	Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BA) Rutgers University, Newark (JD)
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Patrick James Morrisey (born December 21, 1967) is an American politician and lawyer. He became the 37th governor of West Virginia in 2025. Before that, he served as the 34th attorney general of West Virginia from 2013 to 2025.

Morrisey is a member of the Republican Party. He was first elected state attorney general in 2012. He was the first Republican to hold that job since 1933. In 2018, Morrisey ran for the United States Senate but lost to Senator Joe Manchin.

In 2024, Morrisey was elected governor. He won against Democratic candidate Steve Williams. He is the first Republican to be elected to a first term as governor since Arch A. Moore Jr. in 1968.

Early Life and Education

Patrick Morrisey was born in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Edison, New Jersey. His father worked for a steel company, and his mother was a nurse.

In high school, Morrisey played tennis and ran cross-country. He graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 1985.

Morrisey went to Rutgers University. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and political science in 1989. He then studied law at Rutgers School of Law–Newark. He received his law degree (Juris Doctor) in 1992.

Political and Legal Career

Morrisey started working in Republican politics early in his life. He helped with George Bush's presidential campaign in 1988. He also worked on other political campaigns in New Jersey.

After law school, Morrisey opened his own law firm in 1992. From 1995 to 1999, he worked at a national law firm called Arent Fox. There, he focused on health care and election law.

From 1999 to 2004, Morrisey worked for the United States House Committee on Energy and Commerce. He helped create important laws about public health and Medicare. In 2000, he ran for the United States House of Representatives in New Jersey.

From 2004 to 2012, Morrisey worked as a lawyer in Washington, D.C. He was a partner at two different corporate law firms.

Attorney General of West Virginia

In 2012, Morrisey ran for Attorney General of West Virginia. He won against the person who had held the job for a long time, Darrell McGraw. Morrisey became West Virginia's first Republican state attorney general since 1933. An attorney general is the chief legal officer of a state. They represent the state in legal matters.

Supporting Supreme Court Nominees

In 2017, President Trump chose Judge Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. Morrisey and other state attorneys general supported Gorsuch. They sent a letter asking the Senate to approve him quickly. Morrisey believed Gorsuch's decisions would help West Virginia residents.

2020 Election Lawsuit

In December 2020, the Attorney General of Texas filed a lawsuit. This lawsuit aimed to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election in four states. Patrick Morrisey joined this lawsuit.

The lawsuit claimed there were problems with how the elections were run. West Virginia's Governor Jim Justice encouraged Morrisey to join the case. The U.S. Supreme Court quickly rejected the lawsuit on December 11, 2020.

Political Views

Morrisey at a conference in 2017

Sanctuary Cities

Morrisey has worked to support states' rights to ban "sanctuary cities." These are cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration laws. A court decision supported the states' right to do this.

Gun Rights

Morrisey strongly supports gun rights. He has high ratings from gun rights groups like the NRA Political Victory Fund. He helped create agreements with other states. These agreements make concealed carry gun licenses valid in West Virginia and other states.

Immigration

In 2017, Morrisey joined other Republican attorneys general. They asked the Trump administration to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy. This policy was started by President Barack Obama. DACA allowed some young immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to stay.

Morrisey said that DACA was "unconstitutional." He believed it was an unlawful action by the Obama administration. When Trump ended DACA, Morrisey praised him for upholding the law.

In 2018, Morrisey also spoke about the policy of separating families at the border. He criticized a bill that aimed to keep families together. He argued that it put the interests of "illegal immigrant criminals" ahead of West Virginia families.

2018 U.S. Senate Election

In 2017, Morrisey announced he would run for the United States Senate. He wanted to win the seat held by Joe Manchin. During the Republican primary election, Morrisey presented himself as a conservative outsider.

He faced criticism during the primary for his past work as a lobbyist. A lobbyist tries to influence lawmakers. Morrisey won the Republican primary on May 8, 2018.

In the main election in November 2018, Morrisey lost to Joe Manchin. Manchin received 49.6% of the votes, while Morrisey received 46.3%.

Governor of West Virginia (2025–present)

On April 4, 2023, Morrisey announced he would run for governor of West Virginia in the 2024 election. He won the Republican primary. Then, he defeated the Democratic candidate, Stephen T. Williams, in the general election.

Patrick Morrisey was sworn in as governor of West Virginia on January 13, 2025.

Personal Life

Morrisey moved to Jefferson County, West Virginia in 2006. His wife, Denise Henry Morrisey, is a founding partner at a lobbying firm. Morrisey also has a stepdaughter.

Electoral History