Craig Blair
{{Short description|American politician (born 1959)}}
{{update|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Craig Blair
| office = President of the West Virginia Senate
Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia
| governor = Jim Justice
| term_start = January 13, 2021
| term_end = January 8, 2025
| predecessor = Mitch Carmichael
| successor = Randy Smith
| state_senate1 = West Virginia
| district1 = 15th
| alongside1 = Charles S. Trump
| term_start1 = December 1, 2012
| term_end1 = December 1, 2024
| predecessor1 = Clark Barnes
| successor1 = Tom Willis
| state_delegate2 = West Virginia
| district2 = 52nd
| term_start2 = December 1, 2002
| term_end2 = December 1, 2010
| predecessor2 = Vicki Douglas
| successor2 = Larry Kump
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|10|17}}
| birth_place = Martinsburg, West Virginia, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = Andrea
| children = 2, including Saira
| education = James Rumsey Technical Institute
| website = {{url|reelectcraigblair.com|Campaign website}}
| image =
| alt = A man with a glasses, a black suit, and a golden tie sitting with crossed arms, facing left and looking at the camera, with a background of the West Virginia Senate chamber
}}
Craig Philip Blair (born October 17, 1959) is an American politician and a former Republican member of the West Virginia Senate representing District 15{{cite web |url= http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/52565 |title= Craig BLair's Biography |publisher= Project Vote Smart |access-date= April 9, 2014}} from 2012 to 2024. Previously, Blair served 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 concurrently held the title lieutenant governor of West Virginia from January 2021 to January 2025.
Blair lost renomination in 2024.{{cite web | url=https://wvmetronews.com/2024/05/15/senate-president-blair-is-defeated-in-primary-as-are-incumbents-maroney-swope-and-karnes/ | title=Senate President Blair is defeated in primary as are incumbents Maroney, Swope and Karnes | date=15 May 2024 }}
Elections
2024 Republican Primary
Republican Tom Willis defeated Blair in the West Virginia Republican primary on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.{{Cite web |last=McElhinny |first=Brad |date=2024-05-15 |title=Senate President Blair is defeated in primary as are incumbents Maroney, Swope and Karnes |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2024/05/15/senate-president-blair-is-defeated-in-primary-as-are-incumbents-maroney-swope-and-karnes/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=WV MetroNews |language=en-US}}
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.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2023 |title=Senate Journal |url=https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bulletin_Board/2023/RS/s_journal/sdj2023-01-11-01.pdf |website=West Virginia Legislature}}
= 2021 (president) =
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=
Blair narrowly defeated challenger Kenneth Mattson,{{Cite web|last=LeRose|first=Kelsie|date=January 20, 2020|title=Inwood resident Kenneth Mattson files for state Senate seat|url=https://www.journal-news.net/journal-news/inwood-resident-kenneth-mattson-files-for-state-senate-seat/article_3769c0b6-aa5c-5634-a594-303e3164e1ce.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=The Journal (West Virginia newspaper)}} a former military police officer and small business owner, in the Republican primary, and beat Mountain Party challenger Donald Kinnie in the general election.{{cite web|author=|first=|date=|title=November 3, 2020 General Election Results|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/106210/web.264614/#/summary|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201104020536/https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/106210/web.264614/ |archive-date=2020-11-04 |access-date=February 15, 2021|website=}}
{{Election box begin no change| title=West Virginia Senate District 15 (Position B) election, 2020{{cite web|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/106210/web.264614/#/summary|title=Statewide Results: General Election - November 3, 2020|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=February 15, 2021}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Craig Blair (incumbent)
|votes = 41,560
|percentage = 80.10%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Mountain Party
|candidate = Donald Kinnie
|votes = 10,324
|percentage = 19.90%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 51,884
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
- {{Election box open primary begin no change| title= West Virginia Senate District 15 Republican primary, 2020{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_State_Senate_District_15|title=West Virginia State Senate District 15|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=December 12, 2020}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Craig Blair (incumbent)
| votes = 7,837
| percentage = 52.7%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Kenneth Mattson
| votes = 7,033
| percentage = 47.3%
| change =
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 14,870
| percentage = 100.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2016=
Blair easily defeated challenger Larry Kump in the Republican primary{{cite web | title =Blair shakes off challenge from Kump in 15th Senate race | website =The Journal | date =May 11, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/news/local-news/2016/05/blair-shakes-off-challenge-from-kump-in-15th-senate-race/ | access-date = December 16, 2016}} and Democratic challenger Brad Noll in the general election.{{cite web | author=Katiann Marshall | title =Blair keeps seat in state Senate | website =The Journal | date =November 9, 2016 | url =http://www.journal-news.net/news/local-news/2016/11/blair-keeps-seat-in-state-senate/ | access-date = December 16, 2016}}
{{Election box begin no change| title=West Virginia Senate District 15 (Position B) election, 2016{{cite web|url=http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2016&eid=23&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results: General Election – November 8, 2016|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=February 15, 2021|archive-date=December 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225112543/http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2016&eid=23&county=Statewide|url-status=dead}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Craig Blair (incumbent)
|votes = 32,475
|percentage = 70.44%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Brad Noll
|votes = 13,629
|percentage = 29.56%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 46,104
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
- {{Election box open primary begin no change| title= West Virginia Senate District 15 Republican primary, 2016{{Cite web|url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_State_Senate_District_15|title=West Virginia State Senate District 15|publisher=Ballotpedia|access-date=December 12, 2020}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Craig Blair (incumbent)
| votes = 9,702
| percentage = 67.82%
| change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate = Larry Kump
| votes = 4,604
| percentage = 32.18%
| change =
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 14,306
| percentage = 100.0%
| change =
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2012=
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.{{cite web |url= http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2012&eid=8&county=Statewide |title= Statewide Results Primary Election May 8, 2012 Official Results |publisher= Secretary of State of West Virginia |location= Charleston, West Virginia |access-date= April 9, 2014}} He went on to win the November 6, 2012 General election with 28,766 votes (80.8%) against Constitution Party candidate Daniel Litten.{{cite web |url= http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2012&eid=13&county=Statewide |title= Statewide Results General Election November 6, 2012 Official Results |publisher= Secretary of State of West Virginia |location= Charleston, West Virginia |access-date= April 9, 2014}}
{{Election box begin no change| title=West Virginia Senate District 15 (Position B) election, 2012{{cite web|url=http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2012&eid=13&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results: General Election – November 6, 2012|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=February 15, 2021|archive-date=January 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190113063031/http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2012&eid=13&county=Statewide|url-status=dead}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Craig Blair
|votes = 28,766
|percentage = 80.77%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Constitution Party (United States)
|candidate = Daniel Litten
|votes = 6,847
|percentage = 19.23%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 35,613
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2010=
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,{{cite web |url= http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=5&county=Statewide |title= Statewide Results Primary Election May 11, 2010 Official Results |publisher= Secretary of State of West Virginia |location= Charleston, West Virginia |access-date= April 9, 2014}} but lost the November 2, 2010 General election to Senator Unger by 318 votes (less than 1%).{{cite web |url= http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=6&county=Statewide |title= Statewide Results General Election November 2, 2010 Official Results |publisher= Secretary of State of West Virginia |location= Charleston, West Virginia |access-date= April 9, 2014}}
{{Election box begin no change| title=West Virginia Senate District 16 election, 2010{{cite web|url=http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=6&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results: General Election – November 2, 2010|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=February 15, 2021|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041539/http://services.sos.wv.gov/apps/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=6&county=Statewide|url-status=dead}}}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = John Unger (incumbent)
|votes = 18,800
|percentage = 50.43%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change|
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Craig Blair
|votes = 18,482
|percentage = 49.57%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 37,282
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2008=
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.{{cite web |url= http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2008&eid=4&county=Statewide |title= Statewide Results General Election November 4, 2008 Official Results |publisher= Secretary of State of West Virginia |location= Charleston, West Virginia |access-date= April 9, 2014}}
=2006=
Blair was unopposed for both the 2006 Republican Primary and the November 7, 2006 General election.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2006 General Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2006/2006%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423161914/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2006/2006%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}}
=2004=
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.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2004 General Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2004/2004%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423140104/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2004/2004%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}}
=2002=
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{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2002 Primary Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2002/2002%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Pri.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423110402/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2002/2002%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Pri.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}} and won the November 5, 2002 General election with 2,735 votes (64.5%) against Democratic nominee Craig Shibley.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=2002 General Election, WV House of Delegates|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2002/2002%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423101346/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2002/2002%20House%20of%20Delegates%20Gen.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-23 |access-date=|website=}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.legis.state.wv.us/Senate1/lawmaker.cfm?member=Senator%20Blair Official page] at the West Virginia Legislature
- [https://www.wvlegislature.gov/senate1/lawmaker.cfm?member=President%20Blair Senate Page]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124220/http://www.electcraigblair.com/ Campaign site]
- {{CongLinks | congbio = | votesmart = 52565 | fec = | congress = }}
- [http://ballotpedia.org/Craig_Blair Craig Blair] at Ballotpedia
- [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/uniquecandidate.phtml?uc=7406 Craig P. Blair] at the National Institute on Money in State Politics
{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Mitch Carmichael}}
{{s-ttl|title=President of the West Virginia Senate|years=2021–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Randy Smith}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blair, Craig}}
Category:21st-century members of the West Virginia Legislature
Category:Politicians from Martinsburg, West Virginia
Category:Presidents of the West Virginia Senate
Category:Republican Party members of the West Virginia House of Delegates