Republican Patrick Morrisey, a social conservative who handily won his election, was ceremoniously sworn in as West Virginia’s 37th governor Monday on the steps of the state Capitol. “We all know that our best days are ahead of us.

The West Virginia Legislature gaveled in Wednesday as constitutionally required to receive election results, swear in members, and select its leaders for the next two years before gaveling back out, returning in February to begin the 60-day regular session.

Four days before stepping down to join the U.S. Senate and turn over the keys to Governor-Elect Patrick Morrisey, outgoing Gov. Jim Justice gave a goodbye address to a joint session of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates Wednesday.

Three special elections in Virginia will determine which party holds control of the State Senate and House of Delegates. Democrats are favored in two of the districts, both in Loudoun County, a Washington suburb. Republicans are favored to hold a rural State Senate seat west of Richmond.

The Senate’s top leadership position was open because Craig Blair, who has held the position since 2021, was defeated in the Republican primary election.

One day after turning the keys to the Governor’s Mansion over to Patrick Morrisey, Jim Justice was sworn in to begin his six-year term in the U.S. Senate Tuesday. Justice took his oath of office Tuesday afternoon in the U.

Smith, R-Preston, is taking over as Senate president after the defeat of his predecessor, Craig Blair of Berkeley County, in the primary election. Smith defeated the former majority leader, Tom Takubo, and the former Finance Committee chairman, Eric Tarr, in caucus votes for the president’s role.

Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV) was sworn into the Senate on Tuesday, bringing Republicans one step closer to a 53-seat majority in the upper chamber. Justice took the oath of office one day after he finished his second term as West Virginia governor and six days before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated for a second term