By Steven Allen Adams
For The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
Charleston – Gov. Patrick Morrisey cited a bill aimed at cracking down on domestic violence as an example of how lawmakers and the Governor’s Office can work together while also defending his endorsements of challengers to sitting Republican lawmakers heading into the final days of the 2026 primary.
Morrisey held a ceremonial bill signing Wednesday afternoon for House Bill 5101, creating the Joanna Phillips Domestic Violence Prevention Act, at the Governor’s Reception Room at the State Capitol Building.
HB 5101 makes changes to State Code regarding domestic violence and related offenses. The new law clarifies definitions of violent acts, such as strangulation and suffocation, and increases criminal penalties for domestic battery and assault. It also establishes specific bail requirements for domestic violence cases.
“This bill will provide greater clarity to law, strengthen accountability for those who commit these heinous acts, and reinforce our responsibility to protect victims and prevent further harm,” Morrisey said. “At its core, this legislation recognizes that domestic violence is not limited to physical injury alone. It includes the fear, the coercion, and the psychological abuse that too often proceeds or accompanies violence.”
“By clarifying the definition of statute, we’re providing law enforcement prosecutors in the courts with better tools to act decisively,” Morrisey continued.
HB 5101 is named for Joanna Phillips, 46, who was allegedly shot and killed last year by her husband, Jason Phillips, in their home in Sissonville. According to media reports, Jason Phillips was out on a personal recognizance bond following a previous domestic battery charge which prohibited contact with Joanna. According to WCHS-TV, Jason Phillips is awaiting trial on a charge of first-degree murder.
“There had been multiple warning signs before,” said Del. Tristan Leavitt, R-Kanawha, the lead sponsor of HB 5101. “But Joanna’s circumstances, as tragic as that situation was, was not an isolated incident. We again very much appreciate the governor’s support of this bill, and also all of our law enforcement, the prosecutors, and again, the victim advocates that help these situations to try and ensure that they are as infrequent as possible, and when they happen that there is swift accountability.”
Morrisey and Leavitt were joined by several lawmakers for Wednesday’s ceremonial bill signing, including state Sen. Anne Charnock, R-Kanawha, whom Morrisey appointed to a vacancy in the 17th Senatorial District last year left behind when Eric Nelson become Morrisey’s Department of Revenue Secretary. Both Leavitt and Charnock were endorsed by Americans for Public Safety, who had a representative on hand for the bill signing event.
Charnock was endorsed by Morrisey earlier this year in her special election to serve the remainder of Nelson’s four-year term. She is being challenged in the 2026 Republican primary by South Charleston businessman Michael Jarrouj.
Morrisey has either endorsed or donated money in nine GOP statehouse primary contests to date. Following Wednesday’s bill signing, Morrisey answered questions about his direct and indirect involvement with races.
“I want to make sure that we’re going to engage and work with good people,” Morrisey said. “I’m supporting a lot of good incumbents. You see a number of people who are here today, and some folks who have my support. And yes, I am willing to go in. If there’s a superior candidate, West Virginians deserve to have that person in place.”
In state Senate primaries, Morrisey has endorsed Charnock; state Sen. Mike Azinger, R-Wood (challenged by Del. Bob Fehrenbacher, R-Wood); Greenbrier County pastor Jonathan Comer (challenging state Sen. Vince Deeds, R-Greenbrier); state Sen. Trenton Barnhart, R-Pleasants (challenged by former delegate Jason Harshbarger); and state Sen. Laura Wakim Chapman, R-Ohio (challenged by retired businessman Joe Eddy.
In House of Delegates races, Morrisey has endorsed Del. Wayne Clark, R-Jefferson (challenged by Robert Fluharty); and Greenbrier County attorney Mary Catherine Tuckwiller (challenging Del. Ray Canterbury, R-Greenbrier). Morrisey is backing Charles Hartzog over House Finance Committee Chairman Vernon Criss, R-Wood.
Morrisey has donated to state Sen. Mark Maynard, R-Wayne, who is in a four-person primary; and state Sen. Kevin Bartlett, R-Kanawha, who is in a three-person primary. First Lady Denise Morrisey has donated to Comer’s state Senate campaign and the campaign of Hartzog. Over the weekend, Morrisey joined volunteers from the West Virginia chapter for Americans for Prosperity (AFP) in Parkersburg to door knock for GOP legislative candidates.
Several groups affiliated with Morrisey, including AFP, Sugar Maple PAC, and the School Freedom Fund, have spent millions of dollars to support many of the same candidates Morrisey has endorsed or oppose many of the same candidates Morrisey opposes.
Morrisey said his endorsements are no different than endorsements being made for other Republican statehouse candidates by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., whose campaign donated $250,000 to Mountaineer Freedom Alliance to counteract out-of-state spending by Morrisey-affiliated groups; or efforts by state Sen. Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, to recruit and support a slate of GOP state Senate candidates.
“I would also note that I am very comfortable exercising my First Amendment rights the same way that Senator Capito does, the same way that Senator Tom Takubo does, the same way that they are raising significant monies to help out their cause,” Morrisey said. “I want to make sure I fight for West Virginia’s future, and I’m not going to get deterred on that.”
Early voting in the 2026 party primaries continues through Saturday, May 9. Primary Election Day is Tuesday, May 12. Morrisey said he would likely make additional endorsements between now and the end of the primary election.
“There are a lot of people that say, well, why are you doing this? Because we cannot settle for second best,” Morrisey said. “And if we’re not achieving what we need to do to save our state, to transform it, then I’m going to fight to make sure that that happens.”
No matter which GOP candidates win for statehouse races, Morrisey said he was willing to work with any lawmaker, whether he endorsed them or not.
“I want to work with people that want to help our state thrive and move up from 40th to 30th to 20th to 10th,” Morrisey said. “I will work with anyone who wins the selection to try to develop consensus on how we can help our state.”
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