President of the West Virginia Senate

The president of the West Virginia Senate is a member of the West Virginia Senate who has been elected to be its president by the other senators. The current Senate president is Randy Smith, who has been in office since January 8, 2025.

In addition to serving as the Senate's presiding officer, the Senate President is also first in the line of succession to the office of governor of West Virginia (the Senate president does not succeed to that office, but rather assumes that office's powers and duties as acting governor, with the governorship remaining vacant). As stated in Article 7, Section 16 of the West Virginia Constitution: "In case of the death, conviction or impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation, or other disability of the governor, the president of the Senate shall act as governor until the vacancy is filled, or the disability removed." However, the Senate President may not always serve that role for the whole remainder of the gubernatorial term, as the constitution also states: "Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of governor before the first three years of the term shall have expired, a new election for governor shall take place to fill the vacancy."

The West Virginia Constitution does not create or even mention the title of lieutenant governor. However, in 2000, the West Virginia Legislature adopted West Virginia Code chapter 6A, section 1-4(b), which says "the president of the Senate shall be additionally designated the title of lieutenant governor". Earl Ray Tomblin was the first Senate president to thus have the title lieutenant governor of West Virginia.

List

The presidents of the West Virginia Senate since 1863:

1. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline – 31;
2. REDIRECT Template:Legend inline – 23

#	Senate President			Term start	Term end	Party	Governor
1	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:John phelps w virginia senate president.jpg	John Phelps     1821 – August 26, 1884    (aged 63)	June 20, 1863	January 19, 1864	Republican	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Arthur Boreman
2	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:GovernorStevenson.gif	William Stevenson     March 18, 1820 – November 29, 1883    (aged 63)	January 19, 1864	January 19, 1869	Republican
3	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Daniel D.T. Farnsworth.png	Daniel Farnsworth     December 23, 1819 – December 5, 1892    (aged 72)	January 19, 1869	January 17, 1871	Republican
A.	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Joseph T. Hoke     February 6, 1835 – July 27, 1910    (aged 75)	February 26, 1869	March 4, 1869	Republican	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	Daniel Farnsworth (acting)
3	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Daniel D.T. Farnsworth.png	Daniel Farnsworth     December 23, 1819 – December 5, 1892    (aged 72)	January 19, 1869	January 17, 1871	Republican	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	William Stevenson
4	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Lewis Baker (politician).jpg	Lewis Baker     November 11, 1832 – April 30, 1899    (aged 66)	January 17, 1871	January 16, 1872	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						John Jacob
5	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	File:Captain Carlos Sperry.jpg	Carlos Sperry     July 28, 1832 – May 9, 1905    (aged 72)	January 16, 1872	August 22, 1872	Democratic
6	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:DanielJohnson.jpg	Daniel Johnson     April 28, 1836 – December 18, 1893    (aged 57)	November 19, 1872	January 10, 1877	Democratic		rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|
7	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:UlyssesArnett.jpg	Ulysses Arnett     November 7, 1820 – December 1, 1880    (aged 60)	January 10, 1877	January 8, 1879	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Henry Mathews
8	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:DanielJohnson.jpg	Daniel Johnson     April 28, 1836 – December 18, 1893    (aged 57)	January 8, 1879	January 12, 1881	Democratic
9	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Albert Summers     January 1, 1824 – April 1, 1901    (aged 77)	January 12, 1881	January 10, 1883	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="3" style="border-style: solid solid none solid" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Jacob Jackson
10	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |			Thomas Farnsworth     May 17, 1829 – October 12, 1916    (aged 87)	January 10, 1883	January 14, 1885	Democratic
11	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		George Price     November 9, 1848 – February 6, 1938    (aged 89)	January 14, 1885	January 9, 1889	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Emmanuel Watson
12	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Robert Carr     November 17, 1845 – May 6, 1925    (aged 79)	January 22, 1889	January 14, 1891	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Aretas Fleming
13	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		John McCreery     July 31, 1845 – May 22, 1917    (aged 71)	January 14, 1891	January 11, 1893	Democratic
14	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Rankin Wiley     April 6, 1853 – February 21, 1929    (aged 75)	January 11, 1893	January 9, 1895	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						William MacCorkle
15	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		William Worley     August 1, 1846 – October 7, 1928    (aged 82)	January 9, 1895	January 13, 1897	Republican
16	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Nelson Whitaker     November 9, 1839 – December 28, 1909    (aged 70)	January 13, 1897	January 11, 1899	Republican	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						George Atkinson
17	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Oliver S. Marshall.png	Oliver Marshall     September 24, 1850 – May 19, 1934    (aged 83)	January 11, 1899	January 9, 1901	Republican
18	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Anthony Smith     January 9, 1844 – July 10, 1927    (aged 83)	January 9, 1901	January 14, 1903	Republican	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Albert White
19	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Clark May     July 14, 1869 – April 25, 1908    (aged 38)	January 14, 1903	January 11, 1905	Republican
20	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:G. A. Northcott (9980996244) (1).jpg	Gustavus Northcott     April 4, 1861 – December 8, 1938    (aged 77)	January 11, 1905	January 9, 1907	Republican	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						William Dawson
21	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Joseph McDermott     July 28, 1871 – December 12, 1930    (aged 59)	January 9, 1907	January 13, 1909	Republican
22	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Lewis Forman     January 7, 1855 – January 3, 1933    (aged 77)	January 13, 1909	January 11, 1911	Republican	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="4" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						William Glasscock
23	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Robert F. Kidd     February 11, 1853 – June 8, 1930    (aged 77)	January 17, 1911	January 30, 1911	Democratic
24	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:GovernorHatfield.gif	Henry Hatfield     September 15, 1875 – October 13, 1962    (aged 87)	January 30, 1911	January 24, 1913	Republican
25	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Samuel Woods     August 31, 1856 – June 1, 1937    (aged 80)	January 24, 1913	January 13, 1915	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Henry Hatfield
26	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Edward T. England, West Virginia Congressman.jpg	Edward England     September 29, 1869 – September 9, 1934    (aged 64)	January 13, 1915	January 10, 1917	Republican
27	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Wells Goodykoontz (West Virginia Congressman).jpg	Wells Goodykoontz     June 3, 1872 – March 2, 1944    (aged 71)	January 10, 1917	January 8, 1919	Republican	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						John Cornwell
28	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Charles Sinsel     June 5, 1864 – December 8, 1923    (aged 59)	January 8, 1919	January 12, 1921	Republican
29	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Gohen Arnold     January 5, 1885 – June 9, 1939    (aged 54)	January 12, 1921	January 10, 1923	Republican	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="4" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Ephraim Morgan
30	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Harry Schaffer     January 22, 1885 – July 3, 1971    (aged 86)	January 10, 1923	January 14, 1925	Republican
31	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Charles Coffman     August 30, 1875 – August 15, 1929    (aged 53)	January 14, 1925	April 15, 1925	Republican
32	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Mont Z. White (8413570654).jpg	Montezuma White     September 6, 1872 – May 10, 1945    (aged 72)	April 15, 1925	January 11, 1933	Republican	Template:Zwsp
	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Howard Gore
	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						William Conley
33	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Albert Mathews     July 31, 1872 – December 5, 1958    (aged 86)	January 11, 1933	January 9, 1935	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Herman Kump
34	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Charles Hodges     September 27, 1892 – May 1, 1968    (aged 75)	January 9, 1935	January 11, 1939	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Homer Holt
35	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		William LaFon     March 8, 1888 – February 4, 1941    (aged 52)	January 11, 1939	January 8, 1941	Democratic
36	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Byron Randolph     June 12, 1906 – November 7, 1979    (aged 73)	January 8, 1941	January 13, 1943	Democratic	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Matthew Neely
37	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		James Paull     May 3, 1901 – March 8, 1983    (aged 81)	January 13, 1943	January 10, 1945	Democratic
38	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Arnold Vickers     August 8, 1908 – December 25, 1967    (aged 59)	January 10, 1945	January 12, 1949	Democratic	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Clarence Meadows
39	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		W. Broughton Johnston     May 21, 1905 – August 24, 1978    (aged 73)	January 12, 1949	January 14, 1953	Democratic	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Okey Patteson
40	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Ralph J. Bean (cropped).jpg	Ralph Bean     December 15, 1912 – June 7, 1978    (aged 65)	January 14, 1953	January 11, 1961	Democratic	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	William Marland
	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Cecil Underwood
41	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Howard Carson     April 30, 1910 – August 9, 1994    (aged 84)	January 11, 1961	January 8, 1969	Democratic	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Wally Barron
	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Hulett Smith
42	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Lloyd G Jackson.jpg	Lloyd Jackson     May 30, 1918 – October 29, 2011    (aged 93)	January 8, 1969	January 13, 1971	Democratic	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Arch Moore
43	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Hans McCourt.jpg	E. Hansford McCourt     April 21, 1909 – August 3, 1992    (aged 83)	January 13, 1971	January 10, 1973	Democratic
44	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		William Brotherton     April 17, 1926 – April 6, 1997    (aged 70)	January 10, 1973	January 14, 1981	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Jay Rockefeller
45	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Warren McGraw     May 10, 1939 – June 14, 2023    (aged 84)	January 14, 1981	January 9, 1985	Democratic
46	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|		Dan Tonkovich     April 17, 1946 – February 10, 2002    (aged 55)	January 9, 1985	January 11, 1989	Democratic	rowspan="3" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Arch Moore
47	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Larry Tucker     April 11, 1935 – November 16, 2016    (aged 81)	January 11, 1989	September 7, 1989	Democratic
48	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Keith Burdette	September 12, 1989	January 3, 1995	Democratic
	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Gaston Caperton
49	rowspan="5" bgcolor="Template:Party color|	File:Earl Ray Tomblin 2 (cropped).jpg	Earl Ray Tomblin	January 3, 1995	November 13, 2011	Democratic	Template:Zwsp
	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Cecil Underwood
	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Bob Wise
	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Joe Manchin
	rowspan="4" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|						Template:Zwsp
50	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Jeff Kessler.jpg	Jeff Kessler	November 15, 2010	November 14, 2011	Democratic	Earl Ray Tomblin
	November 14, 2011			January 14, 2015
51	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Bill Cole.png	Bill Cole	January 14, 2015	January 11, 2017	Republican
52	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color" |	File:Mitch Carmichael official portrait.jpg	Mitch Carmichael	January 11, 2017	January 13, 2021	Republican	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Jim Justice
	rowspan="2" bgcolor="Template:Party color"|
53	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Craig Blair	January 13, 2021	January 8, 2025	Republican
54	bgcolor="Template:Party color" |		Randy Smith	January 8, 2025	Incumbent	Republican	bgcolor="Template:Party color"|	Patrick Morrisey

See also

• West Virginia Senate
• List of current United States lieutenant governors
• List of West Virginia state legislatures