photo by: W.Va. Legislative Photography

State Senate Economic Development Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Martin will become the youngest Senate Majority Leader in state history next year.

CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Senate Republican caucus’s nominee to be the next senate president next month announced a change in who will be the Senate’s majority leader, while the current chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee will not remain in the role.

In a statement Thursday, state Senate President-Elect Randy Smith, R-Tucker, announced that Senate Economic Development Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Martin, R-Lewis, will become the next Senate Majority Leader after the Legislature gavels in on Wednesday, Jan. 8, to elect new Senate and House of Delegates leadership.

“Patrick is a bright and talented individual. I have said for a while that he is the hidden gem in our chamber and everyone is about to find out how gifted this young man is,” Smith said. “I have full confidence that he will no doubt be one of the most effective Majority Leaders in our state’s history.”

Martin, a businessman, was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2016 and 2018. He was elected to a four-year term in the Senate in 2020 presenting the 12th Senatorial District, which includes Lewis, Harrison, Braxton, and Clay counties.

The district has since been redrawn to include Lewis, Harrison, Gilmer, Calhoun counties, and part of Taylor County. Martin was unopposed in both the May Republican primary and the November general election. When Martin – who turns 32 on May 1 – takes the position of Senate Majority Leader next month, he will be the youngest person to hold that position.

“I am honored to serve under Randy Smith as he becomes Senate President and excited to work alongside all my colleagues in the Senate,” Martin stated. “Randy is a Godly man whose dedication to faith, family, and the people of West Virginia sets a strong example for us all. As the youngest Majority Leader in West Virginia Senate history, I’m eager to bring fresh energy to our work and help guide our state toward a brighter future.”

Smith, a retired coal miner who spent much of the final years of his career in mine safety, was elected by the Senate Republican caucus on Dec. 8. He was first elected to the Senate in 2016 and currently serves as chairman of the Senate Energy, Industry and Mining Committee. Smith was a two-term member of the House of Delegates first elected in 2012, where he served as an assistant House majority whip after Republicans took the majority in the House in 2015.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to have been chosen as the Senate President for West Virginia,” Smith said. “As I begin the transition into leadership, I am committed to working tirelessly on behalf of all our citizens to advance policies that will improve our state and ensure a prosperous future for generations to come.”

Smith succeeds current Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, who lost reelection in the May GOP primary. Martin will succeed current Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, who – along with Smith – was a candidate for the caucus’ nominee for senate president. Takubo was defeated by Smith on the second ballot.

Both Smith and Takubo came out ahead of Senate Finance Committee Chairman Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, on the first ballot for senate president. Speaking Wednesday on the Dave Allen Show on the WCHS Radio Network in Charleston, Tarr said he was offered the opportunity to remain Senate Finance Committee chairman next year but declined.

“Yes, I have been asked and yes, I have declined,” Tarr said. “The relationship between the Senate President and the finance chair, to operate it like I operated it as finance chair, requires absolute trust…What you can’t do as finance chair, at least from my perspective, is be worried about the senate president cutting your knees out for not understanding or not being involved in the discussion at a very high level and have the trust that what you’re doing is in the best interests of the state.”

In his statement, Smith said he would use the remaining weeks between now and Jan. 8 building out the remainder of his leadership team and committee chairs. But he hopes the Senate Republican caucus can go into the next 60-day legislative session in February united.

“Now is the time for unity and collaboration,” Smith said. “Together, we can address the challenges facing our state and build a stronger, more vibrant West Virginia.”