The votes are counted. The results have been announced.
On Tuesday, West Virginians elected a new U.S. senator and congressman, a new governor and a lot of new legislators. West Virginians helped re-elect a president.
It’s been a long few months for our state, for our nation and for our newsroom. But our work won’t stop. In fact, the results make our journalism even more important.
Someone has to keep an eye on how often soon-to-be Sen. Jim Justice shows up to vote. Someone has to hold Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey accountable for his campaign promises. And someone has to let West Virginians know how another Trump administration is impacting them and their communities.
Our team is going to be focused on what is happening and who is responsible, on telling powerful stories of the West Virginians affected and explaining what can be done about it.
We visited all 55 counties in the runup to this election, asking what you wanted to hear candidates talking about. Much of what we heard was no surprise: You want more drug treatment and recovery, better schools and better jobs, improvements to drinking water service and roads … the list goes on. Unfortunately, these issues often were not the ones that candidates — even those West Virginians supported in large numbers — talked much about on the campaign trail. And they are often not what these candidates end up focused on once they win and take office.
That’s why Mountain State Spotlight’s commitment to this “Citizens Agenda” won’t end just because the election is over. We are going to keep reminding the people you elected of your priorities. This part of our work started this morning with a “Honey do list” reporter Henry Culvyhouse put together for the winners in Tuesday’s election.
More importantly, as an investigative newsroom, we’re going to dig. Dig into what Gov. Morrisey’s administration is doing. Dig into what lawmakers are passing — and not passing — in next year’s legislative session. And, we’re going to let you know when the Trump agenda picks away at the safety net and services needed by your most vulnerable neighbors.
And we are going to uncover the moments when powerful interests are luring your elected officials to serve them, instead of you. Our reporters are already at work doing this, and we will come back to these stories time and again, until reforms happen that make West Virginia a better place.
But we can’t do this without you and without your help. Please help us investigate, by sending your ideas and your information to our tipline.
Now is the time to roll up our sleeves.