Son of W.Va. senator to run for governor

West Virginia Del. Moore Capito (R) formally launched his bid for governor on Tuesday, kicking off a new election season in earnest just weeks after the midterms concluded.

Capito, the son of U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R) and grandson of former Gov. Arch Moore, joins autodealer Chris Miller (R), the son of Rep. Carol Miller (R), in the race to replace outgoing Gov. Jim Justice (R).

“We have an election coming up in 2024 where we’re going to pass the torch to a new generation, and we’re going to need somebody that has the experience and the grit to take us to that next level,” Moore, chairman of the state House Judiciary Committee, said on MetroNews’ “Talkline” radio show.

West Virginia is one of 11 states that will elect a governor in two years and one of five in which the current governor is term-limited. 

Three states, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi, elect governors in 2023.

It’s a far smaller group of competitive races compared with this year’s midterm elections, in which four governorships flipped party control. 

States to watch in 2024 include North Carolina, where Democratic Governors Association Chairman Roy Cooper is term-limited; New Hampshire, a presidential swing state where Gov. Chris Sununu (R) just won election to his fourth two-year term; and Vermont, a blue state where Gov. Phil Scott (R) just won his own fourth term.

The other governors term-limited in 2024 are Delaware’s John Carney (D), Indiana’s Eric Holcomb (R) and Missouri’s Mike Parson (R). Governors who can seek re-election include Montana’s Greg Gianforte (R), North Dakota’s Doug Burgum (R), Utah’s Spencer Cox (R) and Washington’s Jay Inslee (D).

After the 2022 elections, when Democrats netted two seats, Republicans control 26 governorships and Democrats hold 24. But Republicans will look to pick up two seats next year, with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) up for re-election and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards (D) term-limited.