Republicans select Randy Smith as new Senate President, Lt. Governor

By Matthew Young, RealWV

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – After a full afternoon and evening behind closed doors and two rounds of voting, West Virginia Senate Republicans, on Sunday, selected a new Senate President. Longtime state legislator Randy Smith, of Tucker County, was elected ahead of Finance Committee Chair Eric Tarr and Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo. 

“If there’s ever an example of the American dream, he’s standing in front of you,” Smith told reporters gathered in the Senate Chamber just before 8 p.m. Sunday night. “I came from a poor upbringing and worked hard in my political career.”

“This is really special because I was elected by my peers,” Smith added. “Honestly, I think it’s because I don’t pretend to be someone that I’m not.”

The 64-year-old Smith, a retired coal mine safety supervisor and grandfather of 10, was initially elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2012, where he served two terms. In 2016, Smith defeated incumbent Democrat Bob Williams to claim the Senate seat which he currently holds. Smith has most recently served as chair of the Senate Committee on Energy, Industry and Mining. 

“I’m a very blessed man,” Smith said. “I give all the glory to God. God is the one who put me there because of the trials and tribulations that I’ve had to go through over the years. I give all the praise to God.”

In addition to presiding over the Senate and determining committee assignments, the Senate President serves as the state’s lieutenant governor, and is first in the line of succession, should the need arise. Smith assumes the role from outgoing Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, who was defeated in the May primary by now Senator-elect Tom Willis. 

Smith, who describes himself as being “very conservative,” says that under his leadership, the state’s Senate will be a “total body.”

“All of us have one vote,” Smith explained. “All of us represent a district, and everyone will be free to vote what’s (best) for their district, or what their moral values are. There’ll never be any repercussions from me. It’ll be determined by the body.” 

“We’re all elected by the people,” Smith added, “And I want to give people their house.”

Smith noted that while he respects outgoing President Blair, they have “different philosophies.”

“I have different philosophies than what a lot of our former presidents have,” Smith said. “I’m down to Earth, and my office is open to everybody. […] I might not agree with them, but I’ll listen to everybody.”

Now that Smith has been selected by his Republican peers, he will stand for election by the full Senate on January 8. However, with only two Senate members, the Democrats have little chance of altering the now predetermined outcome. 

“West Virginia spoke in this last election,” Smith said. “There’s a lot of things that they were upset about that was going on at the national level, and also the state level. They (voters) expect them to be addressed – boys in girl’s restrooms, and stuff like that, and I agree 100%. Let’s bring common sense back to West Virginia.”

As far as Senators Takubo and Tarr, Smith says that the three will remain “great friends.”

“We’ve been friends through this whole thing,” Smith noted. “Even tonight, they were the first to congratulate me.”

Despite the official election of senate president taking place on January 8, the 2025 Legislative Session will begin Wednesday, February 12 to accommodate the swearing in of the state’s new Constitutional officers.