Clinton Wesley Morgan (born July 23, 1950) is an American businessman and politician from the state of Kentucky. A member of the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

, Morgan is a former member of the

Kentucky House of Representatives The Kentucky House of Representatives is the lower house of the Kentucky General Assembly. It is composed of 100 Representatives elected from single-member districts throughout the Commonwealth. Not more than two counties can be joined to form ...

for the 81st district.

Early life and career

Morgan grew up in Leslie County, Kentucky. He graduated from Leslie County High School, Cumberland College, and Eastern Kentucky University. After working as a criminal investigator for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms as a young man, Morgan returned to

Richmond, Kentucky Richmond is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Madison County, Kentucky, United States. It is named after Richmond, Virginia, and is home to Eastern Kentucky University. In 2019, the population was 36,157. Richmond is the fourth-la ...

, and opened a liquor store in 1982. Eventually, he opened a large business called Liquor World and became wealthy. He expanded Liquor World into a chain of four stores.

Political career

Morgan ran for the

in the 81st district in the 2014 elections. He lost to

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

Rita Smart, the incumbent. In November 2016, buoyed by strong local support for Donald Trump, Morgan defeated Smart, receiving 9,056 votes to 8,980 for Smart, a margin of just 76 votes. Early in his single term, Morgan was criticized for introducing legislation that would have benefitted the liquor industry. Democratic legislators criticized Morgan for introducing bills that would have immunized drivers who hit protesters in roads and would have allowed teachers to carry guns at school. Morgan clashed with Republican leaders as well. In November 2017, he called for the resignation of Republican

Jeff Hoover Jeff Hoover (born January 18, 1960) is an American politician in the Republican Party of Kentucky. Early life and career Hoover is a 1982 graduate of Centre College and a 1987 graduate of Cumberland School of Law. Hoover has been a member of th ...

, Speaker of the

, after the news emerged that Hoover had secretly settled a sexual harassment case brought by a female staffer. Hoover resigned as speaker, but kept his house seat. Morgan lost renomination to the Kentucky House to Deanna Frazier in the 2018 elections. Upset with his defeat, Morgan endorsed the Democratic nominee in the race. Morgan unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination in the 2020 U.S. Senate election in Kentucky against

Mitch McConnell Addison Mitchell McConnell III (born February 20, 1942) is an American politician and retired attorney serving as the senior United States senator from Kentucky and the Senate minority leader since 2021. Currently in his seventh term, McConne ...

, placing second with 6.2% of the vote. During the campaign, he denounced McConnell as a "deep-state traitor" and praised what he called the "patriots" of QAnon.

Personal life

Morgan and his first wife had a daughter, Jordan. He and his second wife, Lindsey, have a daughter named Sydney.

Mansion

In 2009, convinced that the

presidency of Barack Obama Barack Obama's tenure as the 44th president of the United States began with his first inauguration on January 20, 2009, and ended on January 20, 2017. A Democrat from Illinois, Obama took office following a decisive victory over Republican n ...

would lead the country to social breakdown, civil war, and "roving bands of gangs", Morgan purchased of land near Richmond and built a house with nine bedrooms and three kitchens. He built a survival bunker below ground level, with a thick ceiling and two tunnels. After his defeat in the 2020 U.S. Senate primary, Morgan decided to sell his house and leave Kentucky. He listed his house for $6.5 million on Zillow. The listing went viral and attracted unwanted attention and criticism because of the underground survival bunker. On the night of February 22, 2022, an intruder climbed to a second-floor balcony, broke into the house, and killed Morgan's 32-year-old daughter Jordan in her bed. The man then shot Morgan in the arm; Morgan returned fire with a pistol, but the intruder escaped. He was arrested several days later and charged with murder and attempted murder. The suspect was described as a former soldier with psychiatric problems who had intended to take control of the underground bunker. As of December 2022, Morgan's home was still up for sale at $6.5 million.https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1266-Willis-Branch-Rd-Richmond-KY-40475/218447685_zpid/?

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Morgan, Wesley Living people People from Hyden, Kentucky People from Richmond, Kentucky Eastern Kentucky University alumni University of the Cumberlands alumni Republican Party members of the Kentucky House of Representatives 1950 births Candidates in the 2020 United States Senate elections 21st-century American politicians