- West Virginia Democratic Party
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The West Virginia Democratic Party is the state level chapter of the United States Democratic Party in the state of West Virginia.
Contents
History
The state of West Virginia granted itself statehood after its people, through a state constitutional convention, became a free state and broke away from the slave holding state of Virginia in 1861 during the first year of the Civil War. Article IV of the U.S. Constitution requires consent of the newly-formed state, the original state, and Congress. Since the Virginian government was ruled illegitimate as it was a member of the Confederate States of America, no approval was required and after Congressional consent, self-statehood was gained and political party formation prospered.
The West Virginia Democratic Party was started as a coalition of Pro-Union Democrats, Pro-Confederate Democrats, and former members of the [[Whig P{arty (United States)|Whig Party]]. After 1872, its dominance spread when restrictions that disenfranchised former Confederates were struck from the state constitution.
West Virginia Democrats in Government
The West Virginia Democratic Party controls all five statewide executive offices and holds a majority in the West Virginia House of Delegates and a supermajority in the West Virginia Senate. Democrats hold both of the state's U.S. Senate seats and one of the state's three U.S. House seats.
- State
- Governor: Earl Ray Tomblin
- Secretary of State: Natalie Tennant
- Attorney General: Darrell McGraw
- State Auditor: Glen B. Gainer, III
- State Treasurer: John D. Perdue
- Federal
- U.S. Senate
- Jay Rockefeller, Senior Senator
- Joe Manchin, Junior Senator
- U.S. House of Representatives
Democratic electorate
Today's party organization
The state Chairman is Larry Puccio.
Notes
External links
- West Virginia Democratic Party
- The West Virginia Constitution
- West Virginia Young Democrats
- WV Federation of Democratic Women
- West Virginia County Democratic Chairs Association
- West Virginia Democratic Legislative Council
- West Virginia Democratic Youth Leadership Academy
Categories:- United States political party stubs
- Democratic Party (United States) by state
- Political parties in West Virginia
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