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by Amelia Ferrell Knisely, West Virginia Watch
October 29, 2026
A super political action committee linked to Gov. Patrick Morrisey sent election mailers backing governor-friendly senators. That’s not abnormal. The problem is the PAC sent the mailers to voters in the wrong parts of West Virginia.
Black Bear PAC sent a mailer in support of Sen. Anne Charnock, R-Kanawha, to the Northern Panhandle. It was meant for Kanawha County voters.
A mailer in support of Sen. Laura Chapman, R-Ohio, from the PAC was sent to Kanawha County instead of Northern Panhandle residents.
Whoops.
Black Bear PAC spent nearly $20,000 on the mailers on Oct. 26, according to a filing with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office.
An email account listed on the PAC’s registration didn’t respond to an inquiry from West Virginia Watch. Its mailing address is listed as Beverly, Massachusetts.
Morrisey appointed Charnock to the District 17 Senate seat in early 2025 after Eric Nelson resigned from the seat after being named Secretary of Revenue.
Charnock faces a significant challenge from her Democratic opponent Richie Robb, a South Charleston politician, due to national political winds shifting Democrat and Charleston’s strong Blue voting base.
Chapman’s Senate race in District 1 is one of this cycle’s most competitive races due to Democratic challenger Shawn Fluharty’s favorable odds to perform well in the area, including with President Trump backers.
Chapman has held the Senate seat since 2022, and this is her first reelection bid.
Fluharty currently serves in the House of Delegates and vocally opposes Morrisey, billing the race as him versus the governor.
Morrisey endorsed Chapman and Charnock in the May primary. The governor was heavily involved in endorsements and campaigning against some Republicans challenging pro-Morrisey candidates in the spring — an unusual move for a governor in the same political party.
On Wednesday, Morrisey said he has been very active this campaign cycle ahead of Election Day, Nov. 3.
“We’re trying to help a lot of people,” Morrisey said in response to a question from WOWK reporter Maddy Sperling during a press conference. “I think I made it clear I support our Republican ticket from the top to the bottom, and I think that’s important. I think it’s really critical that people make educated decisions about who to get out and vote for.”
“I want to be in a position to work closely with the Legislature to get a lot done next year, regardless what the makeup is in the House and Senate, that’s my duty as governor, and we’re going to continue to do that,” he added.
Polling from State Navigate showed that a Morrisey endorsement this election could be “toxic,” though the potential negative effect wasn’t as high in Districts 1 or 17 compared to other parts of the state. In Senate District 1, Morrisey’s approval rating was an even 45-45, according to recent State Navigate polling.
Black Bear PAC was active ahead of the May primary election in the Supreme Court races to back Morrisey’s preferred judicial candidates. Both judicial candidates, Gerald Titus and Tom Ewing, lost in the spring election.
Super PACs like Black Bear can’t donate directly to candidates but can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money to run advertisements, both in support or in opposition to candidates.
Early voting continues in West Virginia through Oct. 31.
West Virginia Watch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. West Virginia Watch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Leann Ray for questions: info@westvirginiawatch.com.
Do you believe we got something wrong? Please read our publishing standards and corrections policy.
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