WYOMING COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) — A longtime Wyoming County resident officially filed paperwork Tuesday to run for the West Virginia House of Delegates, saying his campaign is rooted in decades of hard work, leadership experience, and a commitment to restoring investment in southern West Virginia.
The candidate, John Morgan, who has lived in Wyoming County for 52 years, spent 26 years working in the coal mines, including 12 years as a union coal miner. He said that experience shaped his understanding of labor, sacrifice, and the pride of providing for a family in the coalfields.
After leaving the mines, he transitioned into project management, spending eight years overseeing major power and energy projects with seven-figure budgets. He currently manages a $48 million infrastructure project and has worked with some of the nation’s largest power companies on substations, transmission lines, solar and wind facilities, and large-scale environmental projects.
“I know how to lead teams, manage budgets, and deliver results on critical infrastructure,” he said, adding that his career has been built on problem-solving and dedication to the region.
The candidate said his faith plays a central role in his life and decision-making, describing himself as a Christian with moral values he will not compromise. He said those values, combined with his professional experience, are driving his decision to seek office.
A central theme of his campaign is reinvesting coal and energy revenue back into southern West Virginia. He argued that coalfields powered the state’s growth for generations but have been left behind when it comes to infrastructure, jobs, and economic development.
“Coal revenue built much of this state, and it’s time to give a fair share back to the communities that produced it,” he said.
He is calling for state policies that prioritize southern counties for road improvements, water and sewer upgrades, broadband expansion, workforce development, and small business support. He said revitalizing coalfield communities is not charity, but a matter of fairness and sound economic policy.
“When our roads crumble, our schools struggle, and our people leave, the entire state suffers,” he said. “A stronger coalfield means a stronger West Virginia.”
The candidate also made clear his strong support for the Second Amendment, calling gun rights a core part of West Virginia’s culture and heritage. He said he will oppose any legislation that restricts gun ownership, limits concealed or constitutional carry, or imposes new registration requirements on law-abiding citizens.
“The Second Amendment is not negotiable,” he said. “As a Delegate, I will always stand with the people of West Virginia and defend their constitutional rights.”
If elected, he said his focus in the Legislature will be ensuring energy and natural resource revenues are reinvested directly into the regions that produce them, while protecting individual freedoms and promoting economic growth across southern West Virginia.
