Republican
Republican Patrick Morrisey is unopposed in the primary election. He will be included in the general election The Dominion Post Voter’s Guide.
Democrat
Sam Brown Petsonk
Age: 35
Residence: Edmond, Fayette County
Education: Brandeis University, B.A.; Washington & Lee University School of Law, J.D.
Political and civic experience: Legislative assistant to U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Carte Goodwin; AmeriCorps/VISTA worker in Mullens, Wyoming County.
Professional experience: As a lawyer for nonprofit legal services, I have represented hundreds of working families to deliver millions in judgments, black lung benefits, safe and healthful workplaces — all critical for our state during this era of pandemic. As a legislative assistant advised U.S. Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Carte Goodwin. Established a nonprofit workers’ rights law practice. Held the Skadden Public Interest Fellowship to create the Miner Safety & Health Project in West Virginia, American Bar Association’s Steiger Fellowship in the attorney general’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division.
Campaign statement: As a Morgantown native and a ninth generation West Virginian, I care deeply about the people of the Mountain State. I live in Fayette County and work in Beckley. I owe a great deal to Mon County, where my parents met each other and much of my family has lived and worked over the years. Since the 1980s, we’ve seen tens of thousands of West Virginians lose their jobs, health care and sometimes their life savings, as our factories and mines have downsized or closed.
Top priorities: Protecting what our people have earned and defending our basic rights. To those ends, I will: withdraw support for Morrisey’s lawsuit to strip health care from hundreds of thousands of West Virginians; enforce wage and benefit laws to prevent more West Virginians from losing wages, benefits or retirement income (including intervening in hospital mergers, mass layoffs, and Chapter 11 bankruptcies to protect critical health care, jobs and communities; enhance consumer protection by increasing the number of settlements and enforcement actions by the attorney general.
Isaac Sponaugle
Age: 41
Residence: Franklin, Pendleton County
Education: Bachelor of Science in business administration from West Virginia University with an emphasis in finance; WVU College of Law, J.D.
Political and civic experience: House of Delegates, 55th District, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018. Current Minority Deputy Whip. Statewide Select Committees of the West Virginia Law Institute and State Supreme Court of Appeals’ Community Supervision Committee. Represented 15th Senatorial District on the State Democratic Executive Committee. Pendleton County Democratic Executive Committee chairman since 2011. State Bar Association, South Branch Valley Bar Association, Pendleton County Bar Association, West Virginia Association for Justice, Pendleton Community Care Board of Directors, Pendleton County Chamber of Commerce, Pendleton County Farm Bureau, Franklin Lions Club, National Rifle Association.
Professional experience: General partner in the Sponaugle & Sponaugle law firm located in Franklin. Practicing law in State West Virginia since 2004.
Campaign statement: My wife, Tasha, and I live in Franklin. I’m an attorney and a member of the House of Delegates. In 2012, I became the first person elected from Pendleton County in 46 years to the Legislature. I’m the current Minority Deputy Whip and have served four consecutive terms as a Delegate. I’ve fought against bills pushed by the corrupt special interests. I’ve fought to protect the healthcare, wages, and property rights of all citizens. I will continue this fight as your next attorney general.
Top priorities: My top two priorities as attorney general are: first, stop Patrick Morrisey’s attack on our health care system. As attorney general, he is suing the federal government to end the Affordable Care Act. If successful, 37% of West Virginians with a pre-existing condition may lose their health insurance coverage. If you had or get cancer, heart disease, a stroke, high blood pressure or even diabetes, then you have a pre-existing condition. Morrisey wants to either cancel or increase the cost of your health insurance for it.
