According to The WVMetronews Poll, Gov. Jim Justice (right) and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (left) have strong leads with West Virginia voters ahead of the November election. (Photos by Amelia Ferrell Knisely | West Virginia Watch and Office of the Gov. Jim Justice)
Gov. Jim Justice and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey have strong leads with West Virginia voters ahead of the November election, according to a new poll released Friday.
The WVMetronews Poll , shows Justice, a Republican, is in a wide lead — 62% to 28% — over his Democratic opponent, former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, in the race for U.S. Senate.
Justice is a two-term governor who is dealing with expansive financial woes totaling $1 billion in debt tied to his family’s Greenbrier resort , an unpaid COVID-19 loan , unpaid mine safety fines and more.
The poll included 400 completed entries among registered voters Aug. 21-27, pointing to the popular two-term governor having maintained his lead in the red state despite the onslaught of debts.
All 55 counties were included in the sample. The confidence level is +/- 4.9 percentage points.
Morrisey, a Republican, is leading his Democratic opponent, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, 49% to 35%, in the race for governor .
Rex Repass is president of Research America, which produces the poll. He said that both Elliott and Williams were not well known outside of their local areas.
“Fifty-seven percent said they don’t know enough about them to have an opinion,” he said. “Steve and Glenn need to build name recognition. It’s an uphill climb for them.”
Elliott has been one of the only state-wide candidates campaigning across West Virginia this election season. He is working to go to all 55 counties ahead of the Nov. 5 election day and has almost hit his goal.
In the presidential race, former President Donald J. Trump, a Republican, was leading Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat, by 61% to 34% among West Virginia voters polled.
“There is no question that Donald Trump is strong in West Virginia,” Repass said. “ He still has a strong lead in our poll.”
Trump easily carried West Virginia twice in the 2016 and 2020 elections. The poll showed that Trump, who was indicted for federal election interference , continues to be a top political figure who West Virginians view most favorably ahead of Justice.
Repass noted that his poll showed support for Harris in West Virginia was strongest among women. Harris has made reproductive rights and women’s health care a central part of her campaign.
Poll results also showed that economic and job creation are the top issues for West Virginia residents.
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