Thomas Edward Willis[1] is an American politician. He is a member of the West Virginia Senate for the 15th district.
Tom Willis | |
|---|---|
| Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 15th district | |
| Assumed office December 1, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Craig Blair |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Thomas Edward Willis Martinsville, Virginia, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Virginia (BA) University of Oregon (JD) Georgetown University (LLM) |
Willis earned his BA from the University of Virginia, JD from the University of Oregon School of Law, and LLM in tax law from Georgetown University Law Center.[2] He joined the West Virginia National Guard in 2000.[3] In 2017, Willis and Harrison Gilliam bought the Glen Ferris Inn.[4]
Willis ran as a Republican for the United States Senate seat held by Joe Manchin, a member of the Democratic Party, in the 2018 election.[5] He lost the nomination to Patrick Morrisey.[6]
Willis ran for the state senate in 2024, and defeated incumbent Craig Blair, the president of the West Virginia Senate, in the Republican Party primary election.[7] Willis won the general election in November 2024.[8]
In May 2025, Willis announced that he would challenge incumbent Shelley Moore Capito in the Republican Party primary in the 2026 United States Senate election in West Virginia.[9]
References
edit- ↑ "West Virginia State Sen. Tom Willis - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com.
- ↑ "Tom Willis Announces Run for Senate Seat Held by Craig Blair".
- ↑ Maurer, Kevin (May 3, 2018). "The Operator: A Green Beret Turned Senate Candidate Wages An 'Ideological' Battle On The Homefront".
- ↑ "Glen Ferris Inn has new owners, management". Beckley Register-Herald. July 15, 2017.
- ↑ Staff, MetroNews (January 4, 2018). "Willis enters US Senate race".
- ↑ "Morrisey wins GOP US Senate primary". www.wdtv.com. May 9, 2018.
- ↑ McElhinny, Brad (May 15, 2024). "Senate President Blair is defeated in primary as are incumbents Maroney, Swope and Karnes".
- ↑ Milbourne, Toni (November 6, 2024). "Rucker secures Senate seat in District 16; Willis wins big in 15th". The Journal.
- ↑ McElhinny, Brad (May 21, 2025). "Tom Willis, new to state Senate, soft launches campaign for U.S. Senate".