West Virginia Senate President Blair, House Speaker Hanshaw maintain leadership roles | News, Sports, Jobs

House Speaker Roger Hanshaw receives a handshake from members of the Republican House of Representatives Sunday night time after securing majority caucus assist to proceed as Speaker of the House. (Photo by Steven Allen Adams)

CHARLESTON — There was no white smoke like a papal choice, however Republican members of the West Virginia legislature voted on Sunday to substantiate Senate President Craig Blair and House Speaker Roger Hanshaw as their leaders for an additional two-year time period.

The newly elected Republican caucuses of the state Senate and House of Representatives met behind closed doorways on Sunday afternoon, a day earlier than interim legislative periods in early December, to current their nominees for Senate president and Speaker of the House for the primary session of Jan. 86.

Blair, R-Berkeley, was re-elected unopposed as Senate President by the Senate Republican caucus on Sunday. Hanshaw, R-Clay, was challenged by House Government Organization Committee Chairman Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh.

“It’s always very humbling; It’s humbling when members ask you to continue the work you’ve done.” Hanshaw said Sunday night. “We can be proud of a lot. We’ve moved this state an incredible distance in a short amount of time. All members of this panel have contributed and it is a pleasure to lead the effort. I look forward to continuing to do more of this for two more years.”

The Republican caucus within the House of Representatives started at 3 p.m. and lasted almost two hours. According to sources, who declined to be recognized as a result of privateness of the caucus framework, each Hanshaw and Steele made their arguments, with members asking questions of every candidate. There had been 83 of 88 Republican members in attendance, with Hanshaw receiving 53 votes and Steele 30 votes. Steele couldn’t be reached for remark.

Senate President Craig Blair was re-elected Senate President by the Republican faction within the Senate on Sunday. (Photo by Steven Allen Adams)

Steele, a lawyer and proprietor of a web-based information aggregator web site, introduced on August 8 his intention to problem Hanshaw for the speaker’s gavel. Steele was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2018 and went unopposed in November’s election for the brand new forty second Representative District.

In difficult Hanshaw, Steele cited deadlocked progress throughout a particular summer season session on tax reform and a delay in laws to modernize the state’s anti-abortion regulation. Republicans within the House and Senate ultimately compromised on a invoice proscribing entry to abortion with restricted exceptions, however a House-passed invoice by Gov. Jim Justice to chop private earnings taxes by 10% was by no means picked up by the Senate.

Hanshaw was elected by the House of Representatives in 2018 to succeed former Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanewha, who was appointed by the judiciary to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Hanshaw was elected to a full two-year time period in 2019 and once more in 2021. Hanshaw, an lawyer for Bowles Rice and a former prosecutor for the Republican faction within the Senate previous to 2014 when Democratic lawmakers had been within the majority, was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2014.

On Sunday night time after the caucus ended, Blair stated he was honored to as soon as once more enlist the assist of Senate Republicans, made up of 31 of the 34 members within the chamber.

“I never really thought I had it” he stated. “You have to do something outrageous to be removed from the office of Senate President. I have done nothing but try to serve the will of the members of the Senate. I had quite a bit of confidence that I would continue to be Senate President.”

Brandon Steele, chairman of the House Government Organization Committee, a candidate for House Speaker, proper, speaks with delegates Caleb Hanna (heart) and Jonathan Pinson earlier than a Republican caucus to pick the subsequent House Speaker. (Photo by Steven Allen Adams)

State Senator Patricia Rucker, R-Jefferson, introduced Nov. 22 on her private web site that she would not problem Blair for the gavel, citing a collapse in assist.

Blair has served as Senate President since 2021, succeeding former Jackson County Senate President and Republican Mitch Carmichael after shedding a major to present Senate Education Committee chair Amy Grady, R-Mason. Blair was first elected to the Senate in 2013 and has served three phrases. He is a previous chair of the Senate Administration Committees on Organization and Finance.

As Senate President, Blair is subsequent in line if Governor Jim Justice turns into incapacitated, giving Blair the honorary title of Lieutenant Governor.

Sunday’s votes are provisional. Official elections for the Senate President and Speaker of the House are held in odd-numbered years after an election on the primary day of the brand new 60-day legislative session. Both events nominate a member for Senate President and Speaker of the House, with the candidate from the occasion with essentially the most members successful the highest leadership positions.

Also Sunday afternoon, the Democratic faction of the House of Representatives met and re-elected Delegate Doug Skaff, D-Kanawha, to function House Minority Leader. Skaff’s minority shrank from 22 seats out of 100 to 12 after November’s election, however he stated his group will proceed to push its priorities and oppose majority payments they imagine might be dangerous.

“It is an honor that my colleagues have asked me to be in the position of minority leader again,” Said Skaff. “While our numbers could have shrunk a bit, it is an honor that we nonetheless have a voice to symbolize. There are many individuals in West Virginia who’re underrepresented and all priorities are screwed up by this majority-run state. As a minority faction and as a staff of 12, we’ll do every part we are able to to amplify our message and guarantee all West Virginians are taken care of.”

Delegate Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio, will as soon as once more function the House minority whip.

“While we now have fewer numbers, November also sent a message, when all four (constitutional) amendments were rejected, that the policies they are pursuing are not very popular with the people.” stated Flurarty. “We have an obligation and a duty to be their voice and to speak out on things because now – given the numbers they have – there’s nothing stopping them and we have to have a roadblock and a voice for them.” folks of West Virginia.”

The Democratic faction within the Senate has even fewer members, falling from 11 to 4 seats after the November election, and from 4 to 3 seats final week after Putnam County State Senator Glenn Jeffries switched the events from Democrat to Republican had modified. The remaining Democratic members are Senate Minority Whip Michael Woelfel, D-Cabell, and State Sens. Robert Plymale, D-Wayne, and Mike Caputo, D-Marion.

Steven Allen Adams might be reached at [email protected]