10:06am: Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval

Hanshaw retains House speakership

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — House of Delegates Speaker Roger Hanshaw retained his position as speaker for the next legislative session in a closed-door caucus of House Republicans Sunday afternoon.

Roger Hanshaw

Hanshaw, R-Clay, withstood a challenge from Del. Brandon Steele, R-Raleigh. Sources told MetroNews the vote total was 53-30 in favor of Hanshaw with five GOP delegates not in attendance.

Hanshaw will begin his third two-year term as speaker when the legislature convenes the second week of January for its 60-day regular session.

Hanshaw was first elected speaker in August 2018 after former speaker Tim Armstead left the House to become a member of the state Supreme Court. Hanshaw defeated then Del. Eric Nelson, R-Kanawha, in both the August vote and in the December 2018 caucus. He was reelected for a second term as speaker in December 2020.

Del. Brandon Steele speaking during last month’s special session. (WV Legislative Photography, Photo by Will Price)

Steele announced his candidacy in August.

“I believe our progress is stalled under the current leadership and a new direction and new focus is necessary,” Steele said at the time.

Steele has been Hanshaw’s chairman of the House Government Organization Committee but that’s likely to change along with several other House leadership positions. Those announcements are expected in the near future.

State Senate President Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, was also chosen for another two-year team as president. There are now 31 Republicans in the 34-member Senate.

Lawmakers have interim committee meetings Monday and Tuesday at the capitol.





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