Smith nominated to be next West Virginia Senate president

“I’m not your typical Senate president type,” Smith said Sunday night on the Senate Chamber floor following the vote. “I’ve been blue collar working class … if there’s ever an example of the American dream right here, he’s standing in front of you.”

Smith, a retired coal miner who spent much of the final years of his career in mine safety, was first elected to the Senate in 2016. He was elected in 2012 to the first of two terms in the House of Delegates, where he served as an assistant House majority whip after Republicans took the majority in the chamber in 2015.

Smith said he did not promise anything to win over caucus votes. He simply promised to lead by listening to his fellow senators.

“I was elected by my peers … I think it’s because I don’t pretend to be someone that I’m not,” Smith said. “I’m a very humble person … I mean what I say, and I say what I mean. You know where I stand on everything, because I believe honesty is the best policy.”

The actions of the Senate Republican caucus are private, so it was unclear how many caucus members voted for Smith, though he did confirm there were two rounds of voting. Other announced candidates for Senate president included Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Eric Tarr, R-Putnam.

Takubo, a pulmonologist and executive vice president of provider relations with WVU Medicine, was first elected to the Senate in 2014. He previously served as chairman of the Senate Economic Development Committee and the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee. Takubo was elevated to Senate majority leader in 2021.

Tarr, a businessman and physical therapist, was first elected to the Senate in 2018. He serves as chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and previously served as vice chairman of the Senate Health and Human Resources Committee. Prior to his election, Tarr also served as an adviser to former Ohio County Republican Senate Majority Leader Ryan Ferns.

Smith said the lead-up to the selection was difficult due to the jockeying for votes by supporters of each candidate. But he said he holds no grudges and considers Tarr and Takubo friends.

“They’re great friends. We’ve been friends through this whole thing,” Smith said. “Even tonight, they were the first to congratulate me.”

The next steps for Smith will be appointing a new leadership team, committee chairs and vice chairs and making committee assignments for current and incoming senators. Smith said his leadership team will be diverse and the kinds of bills that make it to committee agendas will be determined by the majority of Senate Republicans.

“I want to use everybody to their strengths, no matter where they’re from or if they voted for me or they didn’t vote for me,” Smith said. “We’ve got some very intelligent people in this Senate … But we’re going to be more of a total body.

“All of us have one vote,” Smith continued. “All of us represent a district, and everyone will be free to vote for what’s best for their district or what their moral values are, and there will never be repercussions from me. … If we have 18 votes, it’ll run and it’ll pass.”

Smith will succeed Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, who lost in the May primary to Hedgesville attorney and West Virginia National Guard officer Tom Willis, who will take office next month.

Blair has served as Senate president since 2021, succeeding Jackson County Republican Mitch Carmichael after he lost a primary election to current Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Amy Grady, R-Mason. Blair was first elected to the Senate in 2013 and has served three terms. He is the former chairman of the Senate Government Organization and Finance committees. Blair also served in the House for four terms after being elected in 2002.

Hanshaw, R-Clay, was unopposed as the House GOP caucus’ nominee for speaker. Hanshaw was first elected by the House in 2018 to succeed Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, who was appointed to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Hanshaw was elected to a full two-year term in 2019 and again in 2021.

Hanshaw, an attorney for Bowles Rice and a former staff attorney for the Senate Republican caucus prior to 2014 when Democratic lawmakers held the majority, was first elected to the House in 2014.

In the House Democratic caucus, Delegate Sean Hornbuckle, D-Cabell, was unopposed as House minority leader. Hornbuckle was first selected for the position in August 2023 to succeed former Kanawha County Delegate Doug Skaff, who resigned from the position and later the House, switching parties to Republican and running for secretary of state.

Hornbuckle was selected as the first House minority leader tempore in 2020. He was first elected in 2014 and served previously as the minority chairman and ranking member of the House Education Committee and the House Pensions and Retirement Committee.

The House and Senate GOP caucuses will present their leadership nominees for a vote by the full House and Senate on Wednesday, Jan. 8, when members gavel in to accept the 2024 election results and newly elected members are formally sworn in.

According to the state Constitution, the terms for new lawmakers begin on the first day of December. After last month’s general election, the 100-member House of Delegates will be getting 14 new members, including 13 Republicans and one Democrat. In the 34-member Senate, there will be seven new members, including six Republicans and one Democrat.

After a Jan. 8 floor session, the Legislature will adjourn until Wednesday, Feb. 12, to begin the 60-day regular legislative session for 2025.