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Craig Blair

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Craig Blair
President of the West Virginia Senate
Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 13, 2021
GovernorJim Justice
Preceded byMitch Carmichael
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 15th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
December 1, 2012
Serving with Charles S. Trump
Preceded byClark Barnes
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 52nd district
In office
December 1, 2002 – December 1, 2010
Preceded byVicki Douglas
Succeeded byLarry Kump
Personal details
Born (1959-10-17) October 17, 1959 (age 65)
Martinsburg, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseAndrea
Children2, including Saira
EducationJames Rumsey Technical Institute
WebsiteCampaign website

Craig Philip Blair (born October 17, 1959) is an American politician and a Republican member of the West Virginia Senate representing District 15[1] since January 12, 2013. Blair served non-consecutively in the West Virginia Legislature from January 2003 until January 2011 in the West Virginia House of Delegates in the District 52 seat. Blair is also the father of former WV Delegate Saira Blair.

As President of the state Senate, Blair has held the title Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia since January 2021. As Lieutenant Governor, Blair will likely briefly become Governor of West Virginia for ten days from January 3, 2024 to January 13, 2024, as incumbent Governor Jim Justice will take office in the United States Senate on January 3, 2024. Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey will take office as Governor on January 13, 2024, ending Blair's term as governor.

Elections

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2024 Republican Primary

Republican Tom Willis defeated Blair in the West Virginia Republican primary on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.[2]

2023 (president)

In the months leading up to the 2022 senate elections, senator Patricia Rucker challenged Blair for the caucus' nomination. After the elections, however, Rucker withdrew her bid, and Blair was re-elected by acclamation. He was once again nominated by Charles Trump, and nominations were closed by minority leader Mike Woelfel.[3]

2021 (president)

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Blair was elected as President of the Senate by acclamation, being nominated by Charles Trump. Further nominations were closed minority leader Stephen Baldwin, leaving Blair uncontested. He replaced Mitch Carmichael, who lost renomination in the previous year's elections.

2020

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Blair narrowly defeated challenger Kenneth Mattson,[4] a former military police officer and small business owner, in the Republican primary, and beat Mountain Party challenger Donald Kinnie in the general election.[5]

West Virginia Senate District 15 (Position B) election, 2020[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Craig Blair (incumbent) 41,560 80.10%
Mountain Donald Kinnie 10,324 19.90%
Total votes 51,884 100.0%
West Virginia Senate District 15 Republican primary, 2020[7]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Craig Blair (incumbent) 7,837 52.7%
Republican Kenneth Mattson 7,033 47.3%
Total votes 14,870 100.0%

2016

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Blair easily defeated challenger Larry Kump in the Republican primary[8] and Democratic challenger Brad Noll in the general election.[9]

West Virginia Senate District 15 (Position B) election, 2016[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Craig Blair (incumbent) 32,475 70.44%
Democratic Brad Noll 13,629 29.56%
Total votes 46,104 100.0%
West Virginia Senate District 15 Republican primary, 2016[7]
Primary election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Craig Blair (incumbent) 9,702 67.82%
Republican Larry Kump 4,604 32.18%
Total votes 14,306 100.0%

2012

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After his unsuccessful run in 2010, Blair was redistricted to District 15, and with incumbent Senator Clark Barnes redistricted to District 11, Blair was unopposed for the May 8, 2012 Republican Primary.[11] He went on to win the November 6, 2012 General election with 28,766 votes (80.8%) against Constitution Party candidate Daniel Litten.[12]

West Virginia Senate District 15 (Position B) election, 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Craig Blair 28,766 80.77%
Constitution Daniel Litten 6,847 19.23%
Total votes 35,613 100.0%

2010

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Rather than run for re-election to the House of Delegates, Blair challenged Senate District 16 incumbent Democratic Senator John Unger. Blair was unopposed for the May 11, 2010 Republican Primary,[14] but lost the November 2, 2010 General election to Senator Unger by 318 votes (less than 1%).[15]

West Virginia Senate District 16 election, 2010[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Unger (incumbent) 18,800 50.43%
Republican Craig Blair 18,482 49.57%
Total votes 37,282 100.0%

2008

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Blair was unopposed for the 2008 Republican Primary, and won the November 4, 2008 General election with 4,994 votes (54.8%) against Democratic nominee Mike Roberts.[17]

2006

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Blair was unopposed for both the 2006 Republican Primary and the November 7, 2006 General election.[18]

2004

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Blair was unopposed for the 2004 Republican Primary, and won the November 2, 2004 General election with 5,193 votes (62.5%) against Democratic nominee Scott Funk.[19]

2002

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When House District 52 Democratic Delegate Vicki Douglas retired from the Legislature and left the seat open, Blair won the 2002 Republican Primary with 624 votes (55.2%) against Jerry Mays[20] and won the November 5, 2002 General election with 2,735 votes (64.5%) against Democratic nominee Craig Shibley.[21]

References

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  1. ^ "Craig BLair's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  2. ^ McElhinny, Brad (2024-05-15). "Senate President Blair is defeated in primary as are incumbents Maroney, Swope and Karnes". WV MetroNews. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
  3. ^ "Senate Journal" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature. January 11, 2023.
  4. ^ LeRose, Kelsie (January 20, 2020). "Inwood resident Kenneth Mattson files for state Senate seat". The Journal (West Virginia newspaper).
  5. ^ "November 3, 2020 General Election Results". Archived from the original on 2020-11-04. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  6. ^ "Statewide Results: General Election - November 3, 2020". West Virginia Secretary of State. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "West Virginia State Senate District 15". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  8. ^ "Blair shakes off challenge from Kump in 15th Senate race". The Journal. May 11, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  9. ^ Katiann Marshall (November 9, 2016). "Blair keeps seat in state Senate". The Journal. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  10. ^ "Statewide Results: General Election – November 8, 2016". West Virginia Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 25, 2016. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  11. ^ "Statewide Results Primary Election May 8, 2012 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  12. ^ "Statewide Results General Election November 6, 2012 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  13. ^ "Statewide Results: General Election – November 6, 2012". West Virginia Secretary of State. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  14. ^ "Statewide Results Primary Election May 11, 2010 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  15. ^ "Statewide Results General Election November 2, 2010 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  16. ^ "Statewide Results: General Election – November 2, 2010". West Virginia Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  17. ^ "Statewide Results General Election November 4, 2008 Official Results". Charleston, West Virginia: Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved April 9, 2014.
  18. ^ "2006 General Election, WV House of Delegates" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-23.
  19. ^ "2004 General Election, WV House of Delegates" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-23.
  20. ^ "2002 Primary Election, WV House of Delegates" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-23.
  21. ^ "2002 General Election, WV House of Delegates" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-23.
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Political offices
Preceded by President of the West Virginia Senate
2021–present 		Incumbent
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