West Virginia House of Delegates
The West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates and Wisconsin's is the Wisconsin State Assembly.
West Virginia House of Delegates | |
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86th West Virginia Legislature | |
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Type | |
Type | |
Term limits | None |
History | |
New session started | January 11, 2023 |
Leadership | |
Roger Hanshaw (R) since August 29, 2018 | |
Paul Espinosa (R) since January 11, 2023 | |
Eric Householder (R) since January 11, 2023 | |
Sean Hornbuckle (D) since August 8, 2023 | |
Structure | |
Seats | 100 |
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Political groups | Majority
Minority |
Length of term | 2 years |
Authority | Article VI, West Virginia Constitution |
Salary | $20,000/year + per diem |
Elections | |
Plurality voting in single-member districts | |
Last election | November 8, 2022 (100 seats) |
Next election | November 5, 2024 (100 seats) |
Redistricting | Legislative Control |
Meeting place | |
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House of Delegates Chamber West Virginia State Capitol Charleston, West Virginia | |
Website | |
wvlegislature |
Organization
Regular sessions begin with an organizational day on the second Wednesday of January of each year.[1] The length of regular session is limited to 60 calendar days.[1] The governor can call for special sessions.[1]
Delegates are elected for terms of two years.[1]
Legislative process
Delegates submit bill proposals to the Office of Legislative Services or legislative staff counsel, who draft the bill.[2] Once the bill draft is approved by the delegate, it is submitted for introduction.[2] Bills then undergo committee review and three readings in the house of origin and then the other house of the state legislature.[2]
An unusual feature of the West Virginia legislative process is that revenue bills can originate in either house.[1] The state constitution also prohibits multiple subjects in a single bill.[1]
If approved by both the West Virginia House of Delegates and the West Virginia Senate, bills are submitted to the governor, who may sign them into law or veto them.[1] State legislators can override the governor's veto of bills with a simple majority vote of both houses, unless the bill is a revenue bill, in which case two-thirds of the members elected to each house are required to override the governor's veto or line-item veto.[1]
Membership
Historical
Affiliation (Elected) | Party (Shading indicates majority caucus) |
Total | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Republican | Other | ||
81st Legislature (2012) | 54 | 46 | 100 | 0 |
53 | 47[note 1] | 100 | 0 | |
82nd Legislature (2014) | 36 | 64 | 100 | 0 |
83rd Legislature (2016) | 36 | 63 | 100 | 1 (Independent) |
36 | 64[note 2] | 100 | 0 | |
84th Legislature (2018) | 41 | 59 | 100 | 0 |
41 | 58[note 3] | 100 | 1 (Independent) | |
85th Legislature (2020) | 24 | 76 | 100 | 0 |
23 | 77[note 4] | 100 | 0 | |
23 | 76[note 5] | 99 | 0 | |
23 | 77[note 6] | 100 | 0 | |
22 | 78[note 7] | 100 | 0 | |
86th Legislature (2022) | 12 | 88 | 100 | 0 |
11 | 89[note 8][3] | 100 | 0 | |
11[note 9] | 88 | 99 | 0 | |
10[note 10][4] | 88 | 98 | 0 | |
10 | 89[note 11] | 99 | 0 | |
11[note 12] | 89 | 100 | 0 | |
11 | 88[note 13] | 99 | 0 | |
11 | 87[note 14] | 98 | 0 | |
Latest voting share | 11% | 89% |
- Ryan Ferns (District 3) changed party affiliation from Democratic to Republican.
- Rupert Phillips (District 24) changed party affiliation from Democratic to Independent to Republican.
- Marshall Wilson (District 60) changed party affiliation from Republican to Independent.
- Jason Barrett (District 61) changed party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.
- Derrick Evans (District 19) resigned after being arrested for his participation in the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.
- Josh Booth (District 19) was appointed to replace Derrick Evans, who resigned after being arrested for his participation in the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol.
- Mick Bates (District 30) changed party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.
- Elliott Pritt (District 50) changed party affiliation from Democrat to Republican.
- Michael Honaker (District 46) resigned after his appointment as the inspector general of the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security.
- Doug Skaff (District 57) resigned.
- Jeff Campbell (District 46) was appointed to succeed Michael Honaker.
- Hollis Lewis (District 57) was appointed to succeed Doug Skaff.
- Charlie Reynolds (District 6) resigned to assume a position with the West Virginia Division of Highways.
- Riley Keaton (District 15) resigned to assume a legislative role in the administration of Governor Jim Justice.
District organization
Prior to the 1970 Census, districts always respected county lines, with districts always consisting of either a single entire county, or several entire counties. Beginning with that year, the state began to use smaller geographic areas.
In response to the 2010 Census, the Legislature was required to redistrict, with the Democratic Party in control. The Republican Party, and groups from the growing eastern panhandle and Putnam County were among those calling for 100 single member districts. Eventually redistricting was adopted, which divided the state into 67 districts, of which 47 were one-member districts, 11 two-member districts, 6 three-member districts, 2 four-member districts, and 1 five-member district. The five-member district, covering most of Monongalia County, remained among the ten largest multi-member lower house districts in the country.
In response to the 2020 Census, the Legislature was again required to redistrict, this time with the Republican Party in control. The Legislature abandoned the practice of multi-member districts and divided the state into 100 single member districts. Each district contains about 1/100th of the state's population, or about 17,500 persons. These changes took effect with the 2022 election.[5]
Speaker
The Speaker of the House is selected by its members. In contrast to the tradition of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Speaker must vote unless excused. The House rules state that in some cases, the speaker is not required to vote unless the House is equally divided, or unless the speaker's vote, if given to the minority, will make the division equal. In the latter case, the question is lost.
Members
86th Legislature party leadership
Position | Name | Party | District | County |
---|---|---|---|---|
Speaker of the House | Roger Hanshaw | Republican | 62nd | Clay |
Speaker pro tempore | Paul Espinosa | Republican | 98th | Jefferson |
Majority Leader | Eric Householder | Republican | 96th | Berkeley |
Minority Leader | Sean Hornbuckle | Democratic | 25th | Cabell |
Majority Whip | Marty Gearheart | Republican | 37th | Mercer |
Minority Whip | Shawn Fluharty | Democratic | 5th | Ohio |
Committee chairs and ranking members
Committee | Chair | Minority Chair | |
---|---|---|---|
Agriculture and Natural Resources |
Agriculture | Ty Nestor | Ric Griffith |
Natural Resources | Chuck Horst | Evan Hansen | |
Banking and Insurance | Banking | Trenton Barnhart | Larry Rowe |
Insurance | Steve Westfall | ||
Economic Development and Tourism | Gary Howell | Vacant | |
Education | Joe Ellington | Sean Hornbuckle | |
Energy and Manufacturing | Bill Anderson | Evan Hansen | |
Finance | Vernon Criss | Larry Rowe | |
Fire Departments and EMS | Phil Mallow | Vacant | |
Government Organization | Chris Phillips | Kayla Young | |
Health and Human Services | Amy Summers | Mike Pushkin | |
Jails and Prisons* | David Kelly | Joey Garcia | |
Judiciary | Moore Capito | Joey Garcia | |
Pensions and Retirement | Marty Gearheart | Sean Hornbuckle | |
Political Subdivisions | Carl Martin | John Williams | |
Rules | Roger Hanshaw | Vacant | |
Senior, Children, and Family Issues | Margitta Mazzocchi | Ric Griffith | |
Technology and Infrastructure | Daniel Linville | John Williams | |
Veteran Affairs and Homeland Security |
Veteran Affairs | Roy Cooper | Ric Griffith |
Homeland Security | D. Rolland Jennings | Mike Pushkin | |
Workforce Development | Evan Worrell | Kayla Young | |
*Select Committee |
Current members
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District | Delegate | Party | Since | Residence | Counties represented[6] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Pat McGeehan | Republican | 2014 | Chester | Brooke, Hancock |
2 | Mark Zatezalo | Republican | 2020 | Weirton | |
3 | Jimmy Willis | Republican | 2022 | Wellsburg | Brooke, Ohio |
4 | Diana Winzenreid | Republican | 2023 | Wheeling | Ohio |
5 | Shawn Fluharty | Democratic | 2014 | Wheeling | |
6 | Jeffrey Stephens | Republican | 2023 | Wheeling | Marshall |
7 | Charles Sheedy | Republican | 2022 | Cameron | Marshall, Wetzel |
8 | David Kelly | Republican | 2018 | Sistersville | Doddridge, Tyler, Wetzel |
9 | Trenton Barnhart | Republican | 2019 | St. Marys | Pleasants, Ritchie, Tyler |
10 | Bill Anderson | Republican | 1992 | Williamstown | Wood |
11 | Bob Fehrenbacher | Republican | 2022 | Vienna | |
12 | Vernon Criss | Republican | 2016 | Parkersburg | |
13 | Scot Heckert | Republican | 2022 | Parkersburg | |
14 | Dave Foggin | Republican | 2022 | Belleville | Wirt, Wood |
15 | Vacant | Roane, Wirt | |||
16 | Steve Westfall | Republican | 2012 | Ripley | Jackson |
17 | Jonathan Pinson | Republican | 2020 | Point Pleasant | Jackson, Mason |
18 | Jim Butler | Republican | 2022 | Gallipolis Ferry | Mason, Putnam |
19 | Kathie Hess Crouse | Republican | 2021 | Buffalo | Putnam |
20 | Geoff Foster | Republican | 2014 | Winfield | |
21 | Jarred Cannon | Republican | 2022 | Hurricane | |
22 | Daniel Linville | Republican | 2018 | Milton | Cabell |
23 | Evan Worrell | Republican | 2018 | Barboursville | |
24 | Patrick Lucas | Republican | 2022 | Barboursville | |
25 | Sean Hornbuckle | Democratic | 2014 | Huntington | |
26 | Matthew Rohrbach | Republican | 2014 | Huntington | |
27 | Ric Griffith | Democratic | 2020 | Kenova | Cabell, Wayne |
28 | Mark Ross | Republican | 2022 | Prichard | Wayne |
29 | Henry Dillon | Republican | 2022 | Fort Gay | Mingo, Wayne |
30 | David Adkins | Republican | 2022 | Hamlin | Lincoln |
31 | Margitta Mazzocchi | Republican | 2020 | Chapmanville | Boone, Lincoln, Logan |
32 | Josh Holstein | Republican | 2020 | Ashford | Boone |
33 | Jordan Bridges | Republican | 2020 | Logan | Logan |
34 | Mark Dean | Republican | 2016 | Gilbert | McDowell, Mingo |
35 | Adam Vance | Republican | 2022 | Brenton | Wyoming |
36 | Anita Hall | Republican | 2022 | Welch | McDowell |
37 | Marty Gearheart | Republican | 2020 | Bluefield | Mercer |
38 | Joe Ellington | Republican | 2010 | Princeton | |
39 | Doug Smith | Republican | 2020 | Princeton | |
40 | Roy Cooper | Republican | 2012 | Wayside | Monroe, Summers |
41 | Jordan Maynor | Republican | 2021 | Beaver | Mercer, Raleigh, Summers |
42 | Brandon Steele | Republican | 2018 | Beckley | Raleigh |
43 | Chris Toney | Republican | 2018 | Beckley | Raleigh, Wyoming |
44 | Todd Kirby | Republican | 2022 | Beckley | Raleigh |
45 | Eric Brooks | Republican | 2022 | Mount Hope | Fayette, Raleigh |
46 | Jeff Campbell | Republican | 2023 | Lewisburg | Pocahontas, Greenbrier |
47 | Todd Longanacre | Republican | 2020 | Caldwell | Greenbrier, Monroe |
48 | Caleb Hanna | Republican | 2018 | Fenwick | Greenbrier, Nicholas, Webster |
49 | Heather Tully | Republican | 2020 | Summersville | Nicholas |
50 | Elliott Pritt | Republican | 2022 | Oak Hill | Fayette |
51 | Tom Fast | Republican | 2014 | Fayetteville | |
52 | Larry Rowe | Democratic | 2014 | Malden | Kanawha |
53 | Chris Pritt | Republican | 2020 | Charleston | |
54 | Mike Pushkin | Democratic | 2014 | Charleston | |
55 | Moore Capito | Republican | 2016 | Charleston | |
56 | Kayla Young | Democratic | 2020 | South Charleston | |
57 | Hollis Lewis | Democratic | 2023 | Charleston | |
58 | Walter Hall | Republican | 2022 | St. Albans | |
59 | Andy Shamblin | Republican | 2022 | Nitro | |
60 | Dana Ferrell | Republican | 2020 | Sissonville | |
61 | Dean Jeffries | Republican | 2018 | Elkview | |
62 | Roger Hanshaw | Republican | 2014 | Wallback | Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer |
63 | Lori Dittman | Republican | 2022 | Gassaway | Braxton, Gilmer |
64 | Adam Burkhammer | Republican | 2020 | Horner | Lewis, Upshur |
65 | Carl Martin | Republican | 2018 | Buckhannon | Upshur |
66 | Ty Nestor | Republican | 2020 | Elkins | Pocahontas, Randolph |
67 | Elias Coop-Gonzalez | Republican | 2022 | Elkins | Pendleton, Randolph |
68 | Chris Phillips | Republican | 2018 | Buckhannon | Barbour, Upshur |
69 | Keith Marple | Republican | 2022 | Lost Creek | Harrison, Lewis |
70 | Mickey Petitto | Republican | 2022 | Clarksburg | Harrison |
71 | Laura Kimble | Republican | 2020 | Bridgeport | |
72 | Clay Riley | Republican | 2020 | Shinnston | Harrison, Wetzel |
73 | Amy Summers | Republican | 2014 | Flemington | Marion, Taylor |
74 | Mike DeVault | Republican | 2022 | Fairmont | Marion |
75 | Phil Mallow | Republican | 2020 | Fairmont | |
76 | Joey Garcia | Democratic | 2020 | Fairmont | |
77 | Joe Statler | Republican | 2020 | Core | Monongalia, Wetzel |
78 | Geno Chiarelli | Republican | 2022 | Morgantown | Monongalia |
79 | Evan Hansen | Democratic | 2018 | Morgantown | |
80 | John Williams | Democratic | 2016 | Morgantown | |
81 | Anitra Hamilton | Democratic | 2023 | Morgantown | |
82 | Debbie Warner | Republican | 2022 | Morgantown | |
83 | George Street | Republican | 2022 | Masontown | Preston |
84 | D. Rolland Jennings | Republican | 2017 | Thornton | |
85 | John Paul Hott | Republican | 2018 | Petersburg | Grant, Tucker |
86 | Bryan Ward | Republican | 2020 | Fisher | Hardy, Pendleton |
87 | Gary Howell | Republican | 2010 | Keyser | Mineral |
88 | Rick Hillenbrand | Republican | 2022 | Romney | Hampshire, Mineral |
89 | Darren Thorne | Republican | 2022 | Romney | Hampshire, Morgan |
90 | George A. Miller | Republican | 2020 | Berkeley Springs | Berkeley, Morgan |
91 | Don Forsht | Republican | 2020 | Gerrardstown | Berkeley |
92 | Michael Hite | Republican | 2022 | Martinsburg | |
93 | Michael Hornby | Republican | 2022 | Martinsburg | |
94 | Larry Kump | Republican | 2022 | Falling Waters | |
95 | Chuck Horst | Republican | 2020 | Falling Waters | |
96 | Eric Householder | Republican | 2010 | Martinsburg | |
97 | John Hardy | Republican | 2018 | Shepherdstown | Berkeley, Jefferson |
98 | Paul Espinosa | Republican | 2012 | Charles Town | Jefferson |
99 | Wayne Clark | Republican | 2020 | Charles Town | |
100 | William Ridenour | Republican | 2022 | Harpers Ferry |
References
- West Virginia Constitution, West Virginia Legislature (accessed May 29, 2013)
- How a Bill Becomes Law, West Virginia State Legislature (accessed May 29, 2013)
- Ben Wilson (April 18, 2023). "Another One: Fourth Democrat State Legislator Switches Party in a Month". Washington Free Beacon.
- "Doug Skaff resigns from W.Va. House of Delegates". September 8, 2023.
- "Bill Status - Complete Bill History".
- "House Select Committee on Redistricting 2021" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature.
External links
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- Official website
- Chronology of Women in the West Virginia Legislature