CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia State Senate will install new leadership on Jan. 8.
Senator Patrick Martin, R-Lewis, is expected to become the majority leader for new Senate President Randy Smith.
Martin, 31, would be the youngest senator ever to serve as the majority leader in the West Virginia Senate.
Martin, who was in the House of Delegates for two terms before winning a Senate seat in 2020, said he was an early support of Smith for Senate president.
As majority leader, Martin will run the floor during sessions, make procedural motions, and keep the Senate president’s agenda on track.
“Also, setting agendas and meeting with other senators on what their priorities are and what means the most for their district,” Marin said.
Martin expects the new leadership group to come together quickly following the nomination of Smith, who was chosen over current Senate Majority Leader Tom Takubo, R-Kanawha, and current Finance Committee Chairman Eric Tarr, R-Putnam, in a GOP caucus earlier this month.
“I think that, of course, the other candidates that ran have just as valuable input as anybody else, and I look forward to working with them,” Martin said. “But I do think everybody is coming together and is willing to work together.”
Martin wouldn’t speak for the ideological direction of the next group of senators but said he does not expect big changes from the Republican supermajority.
“I’m sure most of our members are—economic development, social issues, less government,” Martin said. “The typical Republican principles will mean the most to our members.”
Martin said he first ran for office to create job opportunities to provide careers to keep future generations of West Virginians in the state.
“The reason I decided to run is I saw so many kids I went to school with leaving the state in search of a better job and better opportunity, and I felt like I wanted to step up and try to change that,” Martin said.
The legislature has interim committee meetings scheduled for Jan. 6-7 with an organizational session scheduled for the next day. It will return in February to begin the 60-day legislative session. Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey will be sworn-in on Jan. 13.
“We do have the recess because of the new governor coming in,” Martin said. “We’re not only talking to members now about what their priorities are but also trying to come up with a list for February, so it’s nice to have that break.”