West Virginia Republican primary voters will have a hard time finding a major candidate on the ballot in any statewide race who openly acknowledges President Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election.

Transgender issues have emerged as an unexpected focal point in West Virginia’s gubernatorial race, as Republicans in the crowded primary seek to stand out as more conservative than their competitors in the solidly red state.

In TV ads running in West Virginia, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, Chris Miller and Moore Capito have been accusing each other of harboring transgender sympathies while touting their own efforts to restrict LGBTQ rights.

- West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey speaks during a press conference at the state Capitol, Thursday, May 4, 2023 in Charleston, W.Va. When West Virginia Republican primary voters