Morrisey Issues Opinion on Hall’s Replacement

An opinion by Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says the vacancy left by a senator who was elected as a Democrat but flipped Republican should be filled by another Republican. The Republican attorney general filed the opinion Tuesday regarding ex-Sen. Daniel Hall at the request of Republican Senate President Bill Cole. Hall submitted his resignation dated Sunday to take a job with the National Rifle Association. Two state law provisions create confusion about which party should suggest replacements to Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. Hall was elected a Democrat in 2012 but switched parties after the 2014 elections and resigned Republican. His party switch broke a Senate tie and gave Republicans their first majority in decades.
Morrisey’s opinion calls the law unambiguous. The state Supreme Court likely will decide the issue.