West Virginia State Senator Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, the longest-serving senator in the state’s history, resigned from the Legislature on Thursday, January 8, 2025. (Photo courtesy of West Virginia Legislative Photography)
West Virginia state Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, the longest-serving continuously serving senator in state history, resigned from the Legislature on Thursday, citing the need to focus more on her family and health, according to a news release from the state Senate.
Boley, who turned 90 in December, was first appointed to the state Senate in 1985 by former Gov. Arch Moore. She has held office continuously since then, winning every election in which she ran for her seat.
In a resignation letter sent Thursday to Senate President Randy Smith, Boley said she was stepping down with a “heavy but grateful heart.” Your resignation is effective immediately.
“It has been the honor of a lifetime to represent Pleasants County and the Third Senatorial District for more than 40 years. I would not have been able to do so without the support of my constituents, who elected me 11 times,” Boley wrote in her resignation letter. “To all of you, the words ‘thank you’ are not enough. I will forever be grateful and proud to have been your voice in Charleston, and I have enjoyed my time serving you.”
Boley has held numerous leadership positions during her decades in the legislature. She was Senate minority leader from 1991 to 1997, when Democrats controlled the body. In two of those years – 1991 and 1992 – she was the only Republican on the 34-member body. During those years, she served as minority chair for every single Senate committee.
She has been president pro tempore of the committee since 2015.
In statements Thursday, Smith said it was “difficult to find the words to honor Boley’s years of service,” during which she brought an “energy that few can ever match.”
“She was a strong conservative voice in the Senate, even when she was the only conservative voice. Her institutional knowledge and ability to work with all people – regardless of their political leanings – is an inspiration to us all,” Smith said. “She is truly one of a kind. I am fortunate to call her not only my senator, but also my friend. We will miss her every day, but I am so happy to know that my friend Donna will enjoy her retirement surrounded by the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren she loves so much.”
During a call with reporters Thursday, U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said she couldn’t say “enough great things” about Boley, who was first appointed to the Legislature by Capito’s father. Capito called Boley a “great mentor” and a “strong woman” who served her constituents “honorably and courageously.”
“I find [Boley’s service] Tell everyone, men and women, that a strong woman can do anything if she puts her mind to it, because that’s exactly what Donna Boley did,” Capito said. “I hope she’s doing well. I’m worried about her and I’ll certainly take care of her and her family, but I wish her well and thank her for the many, many years of service and the many conversations and fun times we’ve had together.”
Gov. Patrick Morrisey praised Boley’s commitment to her constituents, calling it “unprecedented.”
“Over the decades, she has earned the trust of West Virginians and served with integrity,” Morrisey said. “I thank Sen. Boley for her exceptional service. West Virginia is stronger because of her contributions.”
Because Boley represents a multi-county district — made up of Wood, Ritchie, Pleasants and Wirt counties — a committee of one man and one woman from each county will be formed who will be responsible for submitting three names to Morrisey to fill the now-vacant seat. The committee has until Jan. 23 to submit those names, and Morrisey then has five days after submission to select a successor for Senate District 3.
The 2026 regular legislative session begins on January 14th.
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