(A News and Sentinel Op-Ed - Photo Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

When I addressed my fellow West Virginians upon taking the oath of office, I said it was the dawn of a new era. A time to set our sights on something truly great: a future where West Virginia thrives as that shining state in the mountains.

We pledged to move the needle on the things that matter: lifting our standard of living, driving educational attainment, and growing our workforce, all while defending and advancing West Virginia conservative values. Promises made, promises kept.

We’ve proven that West Virginia can rise. We will rise. And not only that, we are ready to lead.

We didn’t just check a few boxes. We delivered a big finish to our first legislative session. Nearly every item on our bold, conservative agenda is now law. That’s not just success. That’s transformation. And it’s just the beginning.

To lead, we must win what I’ve called the economic “Backyard Brawl:” a spirited competition with every state we border.

Whether it’s enacting universal licensing to immediately get more people working, or advancing our microgrids to lower income taxes and attract billions in investment, we delivered. We’ve partnered with President Trump’s team on energy, broadband, and cracking down on illegal immigration to secure our state and power it forward. All the while, we continued to showcase why West Virginia is America’s energy state — the leader in coal and natural gas.

We also made strides in cleaning up government to better serve West Virginians. We streamlined government, consolidated outdated departments, and eliminated waste. We made strides fixing the budget mess we inherited while keeping our promises to the most vulnerable. And we’re investing in the infrastructure that connects communities and keeps West Virginians moving forward. Our state government is becoming leaner, more efficient, and more accountable to the taxpayers it serves. We are far from finished in our efforts, but we are making progress.

On education, we prioritized parental rights, classroom fundamentals, and workforce readiness. We banned cell phones in classrooms, eliminated DEI mandates in higher ed, and passed laws to define biological sex in a way that protects privacy and safety. We will always fight to protect girls’ sports! We’re expanding vo-tech and lifting up the trades, because not every path runs through a four-year degree.

We’re getting results — because we said from day one, we’re not afraid to fight. Whether it’s taking on D.C. elites, radical activists, or the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). We’re fighting and we’re winning by ending state investments in CCP-controlled companies and bolstering energy production, because American energy independence begins right here in West Virginia.

These wins are a credit to the hardworking people of this state. From the families I meet on the road, to the children dreaming of a brighter future, to the walkers and runners who joined me for the Mountaineer Mile, I know West Virginia’s transformation will be led by the people I meet every day.

It won’t always be easy. I draw strength from the resilience of those recovering after devastating floods, those battling addiction, and the neighbors doing everything they can to make ends meet. We can succeed, and we’ll do it together.

This fight isn’t easy. But it’s worth it. Because we’re not just fighting for a better economy and a better way of life. We are standing up against elites, the media, and a Chinese Communist Party rooting for us to fail.

So here’s my promise: We’re just getting started. We won’t rest until West Virginia is the best place to live, work, and play in America.

God bless you — and God bless the great state of West Virginia. Keep the faith!