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Millions pour in to support Morrisey’s campaign to be West Virginia governor

Black Bear PAC has more than $3.8 million in cash-on-hand, including a $2.1 million donation from Club for Growth Action, to support Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s Republican campaign for governor of West Virginia. (Photo courtesy of WV Legislative Photography)

CHARLESTON — A political action committee linked to Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and a national conservative group are making good on a promise to pour millions into West Virginia to help Morrisey become the state’s next governor.

Black Bear PAC has $3.8 million in cash on hand going into the remainder of 2023, according to a mid-year report filed July 31 with the Federal Election Commission covering the period between January and June. Political action committees are only required to file FEC campaign finance reports semi-annually during non-election years.

During the six-month period, Black Bear PAC raised more than $2.1 million, with nearly all of that from a $2.1 million donation on March 28 from Club for Growth Action, the super PAC affiliated with the conservative public policy advocacy organization Club for Growth.

Black Bear PAC is affiliated with Morrisey. Scott Will, a former campaign manager for Morrisey’s first run for attorney general in 2012, is a senior adviser to Black Bear PAC. Will, a partner with Attorney General Strategies, also is a former executive director for the Republican Attorney General’s Association.

Both the Club for Growth PAC and Black Bear PAC endorsed Morrisey in April for the Republican nomination for governor of West Virginia to succeed the term-limited Gov. Jim Justice, who is seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2024.

In a press release at the time, both PACs said they had already raised $5 million to support Morrisey with a goal to spend more than $10 million.

“Black Bear PAC is thrilled that Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has entered the race to be the next governor of West Virginia,” Will said. “Attorney General Morrisey has a proven record as a conservative fighter for the people of West Virginia and we’re confident that he is the right man for the job. We will do everything in our power to ensure that Patrick Morrisey is the next governor of West Virginia.”

“We are excited that a pro-growth conservative fighter like Attorney General Morrisey has gotten into the race for governor of West Virginia,” said David McIntosh, president of the Club for Growth PAC. “While other candidates may talk the talk, Morrisey has spent his entire career fighting for limited government, lower taxes and less spending.”

Other donations to Black Bear PAC were $5,000 from the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers and $42,500 from the Starpoint Resort Group.

Black Bear PAC spent $346,392 during the six-month period, including spending $50,500 on a poll released March 7 prior to Morrisey entering the governor’s race showing him in a wide lead over other Republican candidates.

The poll, conducted between Feb. 23 and Feb. 28 with 600 likely 2024 primary voters, had Morrisey leading with 28% support in a match-up between House Judiciary Committee Chairman Moore Capito (15%), Secretary of State Mac Warner (11%), and Huntington automobile dealer Chris Miller (6%), with 6% supporting other candidates and 29% undecided.

Club for Growth Action, which supports multiple state and federal candidates, raised more than $10.6 million according to its July monthly FEC report and has more than $22.6 million in cash-on-hand. Of its $10.6 million in donations, $550,000 came from Protect West Virginia Values, a PAC founded in November 2022 and based in Athens, Ga.

According to Protect West Virginia Values’ mid-year FEC report, the group raised $200,000 over a six-month period and has $17,348 in cash-on-hand after its $550,000 donation to Club for Growth. Donations to Protect West Virginia Values include $50,000 from Florida real estate developer James Batmasian; $100,000 from John Jack Dwyer, president of Florida-based Capital Funding Group; and $50,000 from Trusted Causes LLC, a North Carolina-based company known for donating to Republicans and conservative causes.

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com.

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