Secretary of State Kris Warner Challenges Citizens to Step Up and Lead

The 87th American Legion Mountaineer Boys State got a powerful jolt of inspiration Monday morning when West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner took the stage at Jackson’s Mill to address this year’s Citizens. Warner, elected as the state’s 31st Secretary of State in 2024, brought energy, candor, and a direct challenge to every young man in the room: take what you learn this week and go do something with it.

Warner opened by making clear just how meaningful it is to be selected for Boys State, calling the American Legion’s program the premier leadership experience for high school students anywhere in the nation. He also made a personal offer that turned some heads: grab his business card on the way out, and he’ll write you a letter of recommendation for college, internships, graduate school, whatever comes next. “I know how hard it is to get a good recommendation at your age,” he told the crowd, “and I want to be there for you.”

The address took a deep dive into West Virginia’s unique place in voting rights history. Warner walked Citizens through the decades-long fight of Senator Jennings Randolph of Salem, WV, who spent nearly 30 years championing the 26th Amendment, ultimately guaranteeing 18, 19, and 20-year-olds the right to vote. He also highlighted a string of remarkable young West Virginians who didn’t wait to get involved, including Delegate Saira Blair, who won her primary at age 17 and was elected to the House of Delegates at 18, and Caleb Hanna, who won his seat just days after turning 19.

Warner also laid out a specific challenge for Citizens to carry back home: the Jennings Randolph Award for Student Civic Engagement. Any West Virginia high school that conducts a student-led voter registration drive and registers at least 85% of its seniors earns the award, and two student leaders can be nominated as honorary Secretaries of State and recognized before the West Virginia Legislature. His four field representatives were on-site to connect with any Citizen ready to take that challenge back to their school in the fall.

It was exactly the kind of visit Boys State is built for: a real elected official, a real conversation, and a real ask. Warner closed by recognizing the adult staff and counselors who make the program run, and reminded Citizens that the lessons of this week don’t end Saturday. Future mayors, legislators, governors, and yes, maybe even a future Secretary of State were in that room. The only question is what they’ll do next.