West Virginia Secretary of State
| West Virginia Secretary of State | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Partisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $95,000 |
| 2024 FY Budget: | $8,156,659 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | West Virginia Constitution, Article VII, Section 1 |
| Selection Method: | Elected |
| Current Officeholder | |
West Virginia Secretary of State
Mac Warner | |
| Elections | |
| Next election: | November 7, 2028 |
| Last election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Other West Virginia Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Auditor • Superintendent of Education• Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner• Natural Resources Commissioner • Secretary of Commerce • Commissioner of Labor • Public Service Commission | |
The West Virginia Secretary of State is an elected office within the West Virginia state government. The secretary of state is responsible for overseeing the state's election process, including voter registration and election results reporting.
Because West Virginia does not have a lieutenant governor, the secretary of state assumes many of the roles traditionally reserved for the lieutenant governor in other states.[1]
West Virginia has a Republican triplex. The Republican Party controls the offices of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Current officeholder
The current officeholder is Mac Warner (R). He was first elected in 2016 and assumed office on January 16, 2017.[2]
Authority
The office of secretary of state is established by Article VII of the West Virginia Constitution.
Article VII, Section 1:
| The executive department shall consist of a governor, secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, commissioner of agriculture and attorney general... |
Qualifications
Article IV, Section 4 of the West Virginia Constitution establishes the qualifications of office as such:
- a citizen entitled to vote
- a resident of West Virginia for at least the preceding five years
|
No person, except citizens entitled to vote, shall be elected or appointed to any state, county or municipal office; but the governor and judges must have attained the age of thirty, and the attorney general and senators the age of twenty-five years, at the beginning of their respective terms of service; and must have been citizens of the state for five years next preceding their election or appointment, or be citizens at the time this constitution goes into operation. |
Elections
The secretary of state is a publicly elected statewide position with elections held every four years. Elections are held in November and the winner assumes office the following January.
2024
General election
General election for West Virginia Secretary of State
Kris Warner defeated Thornton Cooper in the general election for West Virginia Secretary of State on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Kris Warner (R) | 72.3 | 446,815 |
 | Thornton Cooper (D)  | 27.7 | 170,991 | |
| Total votes: 617,806 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia Secretary of State
Thornton Cooper advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia Secretary of State on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Thornton Cooper | 100.0 | 82,262 |
| Total votes: 82,262 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia Secretary of State
Kris Warner defeated Douglas Skaff, Jr., Ken Reed, and Brian Wood in the Republican primary for West Virginia Secretary of State on May 14, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Kris Warner | 45.9 | 92,911 |
 | Douglas Skaff, Jr. | 21.0 | 42,515 | |
 | Ken Reed | 16.8 | 34,101 | |
 | Brian Wood | 16.3 | 33,083 | |
| Total votes: 202,610 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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2020
General election
General election for West Virginia Secretary of State
Incumbent Mac Warner defeated Natalie Tennant in the general election for West Virginia Secretary of State on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Mac Warner (R) | 58.3 | 447,537 |
 | Natalie Tennant (D) | 41.7 | 320,650 | |
| Total votes: 768,187 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for West Virginia Secretary of State
Natalie Tennant advanced from the Democratic primary for West Virginia Secretary of State on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Natalie Tennant | 100.0 | 181,161 |
| Total votes: 181,161 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Brent Pauley (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for West Virginia Secretary of State
Incumbent Mac Warner advanced from the Republican primary for West Virginia Secretary of State on June 9, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mac Warner | 100.0 | 179,904 |
| Total votes: 179,904 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
2016
The general election for secretary of state was held on November 8, 2016.
Mac Warner defeated incumbent Natalie Tennant and John Buckley in the West Virginia secretary of state election.
| West Virginia Secretary of State, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican |  Mac Warner |
48.52% | 335,526 | |
| Democratic | Natalie Tennant Incumbent | 46.82% | 323,750 | |
| Libertarian | John Buckley | 4.65% | 32,179 | |
| Total Votes | 691,455 | |||
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State | ||||
Full history
To view the electoral history dating back to 2000 for the office of West Virginia Secretary of State, click [show] to expand the section. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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2012Incumbent Natalie Tennant (D) defeated Brian Savilla (R) in the November 6, 2012 general election.
2008On November 4, 2008, Natalie Tennant won election to the office of West Virginia Secretary of State. She defeated Charles Theophilus Minimah (R) in the general election.
2004 On November 2, 2004, Betty Ireland won election to the office of West Virginia Secretary of State. She defeated Ken Hechler (R) in the general election.
2000 On November 7, 2000, Joe Manchin, III won election to the office of West Virginia Secretary of State. He defeated Poochie Myers (L) in the general election.
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Term limits
There are no term limits for the office.
Vacancies
Details of vacancy appointments are addressed under Article VII, Section 17 of the state constitution.
If the office of secretary of state becomes vacant, it is the duty of the governor to fill the position by appointment. The appointee serves until a new secretary of state is elected.
| Text of Section 17:
Vacancies in Other Executive Departments If the office of secretary of state, auditor, treasurer, commissioner of agriculture or attorney general shall become vacant by death, resignation, or otherwise, it shall be the duty of the governor to fill the same by appointment, and the appointee shall hold his office until his successor shall be elected and qualified in such manner as may be prescribed by law. The subordinate officers of the executive department and the officers of all public institutions of the state shall keep an account of all moneys received or disbursed by them, respectively, from all sources, and for every service performed, and make a semiannual report thereof to the governor under oath or affirmation; and any officer who shall wilfully make a false report shall be deemed guilty of perjury. |
Duties
As of February 2021, the stated duties of the office were:[3]
| “ | The Secretary of State serves as the Chief Elections Officer of West Virginia and oversees the election process throughout the state along with the recording of official campaign financial records and candidate filings. The Secretary of State is a member of the State Election Commission, the Board of Public Works, and the State Armory Board.
The Secretary of State authorizes and issues licenses to private detectives, investigators, and security agencies. The Secretary is the official administrator of the Uniform Commercial Code, the official administrator of the Farm Lien Program and is responsible for the administration of the “Solicitation of Charitable Funds Act.” The Secretary of State acts as the statutory attorney-in-fact for service of process for corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships for state agencies. The Secretary of State is the keeper of the executive journal, an official record of state government, maintaining records of all the official actions of the Governor. The Secretary of State’s Office registers corporations and limited liability companies, both profit and nonprofit, issuing certificates of incorporation for the creation of all domestic corporations and certificates of authority to foreign corporations to transact business in West Virginia. The Secretary of State’s Office also registers limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, voluntary associations, business trusts, credit service organizations, athlete agents, marriage celebrants, notaries public and commissioners. The Secretary of State’s Office houses the Code of State Rules and maintains filing of all rules, grievance decisions, ethics opinions, meeting notices, and also maintains a record of all enrolled bills originated and passed in the Legislature. The Secretary of State is the keeper of the seals of the State.[4] |
” |
Divisions
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for information that describes the divisions (if any exist) of a state executive office. That information for the West Virginia Secretary of State has not yet been added. After extensive research we were unable to identify any relevant information on state official websites. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
State budget
- See also: West Virginia state budget and finances
The budget for the Secretary of State's Office in Fiscal Year 2024 was $8,156,659.[5]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
Article 7, Section 19 of the state constitution defines the method by which the secretary of state's compensation is set:
| The officers named in this article shall receive for their services a salary to be established by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during their official terms, and they shall not, after they shall not, after the expirations of the terms of those in office at the adoption of this amendment, receive to their own use any fees, costs, perquisites of office or other compensation, and all fees that may hereafter be payable by law, for any service performed by any officer provided for in this article of the Constitution, shall be paid in advance into the state treasury. |
Chapter 6, Article 7-2 of the West Virginia Code lays out the exact compensation for certain state officers. According to this section of the state code, the salary of the secretary of state, beginning in 2009 and for each calendar year thereafter, shall be $95,000.[6]
2022
In 2022, the officer's salary was $95,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2021
In 2021, the secretary of state received a salary of $95,000, according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2020
In 2020, the secretary of state received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2019
In 2019, the secretary of state received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2018
In 2018, the secretary of state received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2017
In 2017, the secretary of state received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2016
In 2016, the secretary of state received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2015
In 2015, the secretary of state received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2014
In 2014, the secretary received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2013
In 2013, the secretary received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
2012
In 2012, the secretary received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.
2010
In 2010, the secretary received a salary of $95,000 according to the Council of State Governments.[17]
Historical officeholders
Since 1863, West Virginia has had 30 secretaries of state.[18]
Click "show" for former officeholders.
| Number | Name | Took office | Left office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Edgar Boyers | 1863 | 1865 | Republican |
| 2 | Graville D. Hall | 1865 | 1867 | Republican |
| 3 | John S. Witcher | 1867 | 1869 | Republican |
| 4 | James M. Pipes | 1869 | 1871 | Republican |
| 5 | John M. Phelps | 1871 | 1873 | Republican |
| 6 | Charles Hedrick | 1873 | 1877 | Democrat |
| 7 | Sobieski Brady | 1877 | 1881 | Democrat |
| 8 | Randolph Stainaker | 1881 | 1885 | Democrat |
| 9 | Henry S. Walker | 1885 | 1890 | Democrat |
| 10 | William A. Ohley | 1890 | 1893 | Democrat |
| 11 | William E. Chilton | 1893 | 1897 | Democrat |
| 12 | William M.O. Dawson | 1897 | 1905 | Republican |
| 13 | Charles Wesley Swisher | 1905 | 1909 | Republican |
| 14 | Stuart F. Reed | 1909 | 1917 | Republican |
| 15 | Houston G. Young | 1917 | 1925 | Republican |
| 16 | George W. Sharp | 1925 | 1933 | Republican |
| 17 | William O'Brien | 1933 | 1948 | Democrat |
| 18 | Daniel Pitt O'Brien | 1948 | 1957 | Democrat |
| 19 | Helen F. Holt | 1957 | 1958 | Republican |
| 20 | Joe F. Burdett | 1958 | 1965 | Democrat |
| 21 | Robert D. Bailey, Jr. | 1965 | 1972 | Democrat |
| 22 | John D. Rockefeller, IV | 1969 | 1972 | Democrat |
| 23 | Edgar F. Heiskill | 1972 | 1975 | Republican |
| 24 | James R. McCartney | 1975 | 1977 | Republican |
| 25 | A. James Manchin | 1977 | 1985 | Democrat |
| 26 | Ken Hechler | 1985 | 2001 | Democrat |
| 27 | Joe Manchin III | 2001 | 2005 | Democrat |
| 28 | Betty Ireland | 2005 | 2009 | Republican |
| 29 | Natalie E. Tennant | 2009 | 2017 | Democrat |
| 30 | Mac Warner | 2017 | Present | Republican |
Recent news
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Contact information
Capitol Address:
State Capitol Building
Charleston, WV 25305
Phone: (304) 558-6000
Fax: (304) 558-0900
See also
| West Virginia | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Homepage," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Biography," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Duties," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ West Virginia Legislature, "Committee Substitute for House Bill 2024," accessed December 6, 2023
- ↑ West State Legislature, "West Virginia Code," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 28, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed February 1, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed December 8, 2014
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Table 4.11 Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 31, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "The Book of States 2010 Table 4.11," accessed June 7, 2011
- ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Past Secretaries of State" accessed February 1, 2021
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