Who is wv attorney general

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Last updated: April 17, 2026

Quick Answer: As of 2023, the Attorney General of West Virginia is Patrick Morrisey, who has held the office since January 2013 and was re-elected in 2016, 2020, and 2024. He is a member of the Republican Party and the first Republican to serve as state attorney general since the 1930s.

Key Facts

Patrick Morrisey has served as West Virginia Attorney General since January 14, 2013
He was re-elected in 2016, 2020, and 2024
Morrisey is the first Republican Attorney General in West Virginia since the 1930s
He previously served as a U.S. Congressman representing West Virginia's 1st district
Morrisey filed over 20 lawsuits against the Biden administration from 2021 to 2023

Overview

The Attorney General of West Virginia is the state's chief legal officer, responsible for representing state agencies, enforcing consumer protection laws, and defending state interests in court. The office plays a pivotal role in shaping legal policy, particularly in areas like public health, environmental regulation, and corporate accountability.

As of 2024, the position is held by Patrick Morrisey, a prominent figure in state and national politics. His tenure has been marked by aggressive litigation strategies, especially in challenging federal regulations and advocating for energy industry interests.

Term: Patrick Morrisey took office on January 14, 2013, following his victory in the 2012 election, becoming the first Republican elected to the role in over 80 years.
Re-elections: He won subsequent terms in 2016, 2020, and 2024, demonstrating sustained voter support across multiple election cycles.
Political Affiliation: Morrisey is a member of the Republican Party and has aligned closely with conservative legal initiatives at both state and national levels.
Previous Office: Before becoming Attorney General, he served one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing West Virginia’s 1st congressional district from 2011 to 2013.
Legal Focus: His office has prioritized opioid litigation, suing major pharmaceutical companies for their role in the addiction crisis, securing settlements totaling over $100 million.

How It Works

The West Virginia Attorney General is elected every four years in statewide elections and serves as the top legal advisor to the state government. The office operates independently but coordinates with the governor and state legislature on key legal matters.

Term: The Attorney General serves a four-year term with no term limits. First elected in 2012, Morrisey has served three full terms and is currently in his fourth.
Election Process: Candidates run in partisan elections, with primaries held in May and general elections in November; Morrisey won with 50.1% of the vote in 2012.
Duties: The office defends state laws in court, issues legal opinions, and enforces antitrust, consumer protection, and environmental statutes.
Budget: The Attorney General’s office had a fiscal year 2023 budget of $24.7 million, supporting over 120 employees across multiple divisions.
Staffing: The office includes divisions for criminal enforcement, civil litigation, consumer protection, and Medicaid fraud, each led by senior attorneys.
Public Engagement: The Attorney General operates a consumer complaint hotline that received over 15,000 reports in 2022, primarily concerning scams and deceptive business practices.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of recent West Virginia Attorneys General and their key metrics.

Attorney General	Party	Years Served	Major Initiatives	Re-election Success
Patrick Morrisey	Republican	2013–present	Opioid lawsuits, energy regulation challenges	Re-elected in 2016, 2020, 2024
Darrell McGraw	Democrat	1993–2013	Big Tobacco litigation, coal mine safety enforcement	Served five terms
Joe Albright (Acting)	Democrat	1992–1993	Interim leadership during transition	Not elected
Chauncey H. Browning	Democrat	1977–1991	Consumer rights expansion, antitrust enforcement	Served four terms
Forrest H. Caudill	Democrat	1969–1977	Environmental protection groundwork	Served two terms

This table illustrates a shift in political control of the office, with Morrisey ending a long Democratic hold that lasted from 1977 to 2013. His tenure reflects a broader national trend of state attorneys general using the office to influence federal policy through litigation.

Why It Matters

The role of West Virginia’s Attorney General has far-reaching implications for public policy, legal precedent, and consumer welfare. Morrisey’s aggressive use of the office to challenge federal authority has placed West Virginia at the center of national legal debates.

National Influence: Morrisey led a coalition of 26 states in challenging the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, a case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022.
Consumer Protection: His office recovered over $75 million in restitution for West Virginians affected by fraudulent business practices between 2013 and 2023.
Opioid Crisis: Filed lawsuits against Purdue Pharma and other manufacturers, contributing to a national settlement framework exceeding $26 billion.
Energy Policy: Advocated for coal and natural gas industries by challenging federal emissions regulations, aligning with state economic interests.
Medicaid Fraud: Prosecuted over 40 cases of Medicaid fraud from 2018 to 2022, recovering approximately $12 million in taxpayer funds.
Public Trust: Maintained a statewide approval rating of 54% in 2023, according to West Virginia University polls, despite political polarization.

The Attorney General’s office remains a powerful institution in shaping West Virginia’s legal and policy landscape, with Morrisey’s tenure setting new precedents for state-level legal activism.