Kris Warner serves as West Virginia’s 31st Secretary of State, elected in November 2024. A sixth-generation West Virginian from Charleston, Warner has built his career around public service and economic development. Before taking office, he was appointed by President Donald J. Trump in 2017 as the State Director for USDA Rural Development, where he oversaw more than $1.2 billion in investment toward infrastructure, housing, and broadband across the Mountain State.
In 2021, Warner was appointed Executive Director of the West Virginia Economic Development Authority by Governor Jim Justice, managing over $2 billion in funding to stimulate industry growth. He has also served as Chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party and as the state’s National Committeeman to the Republican National Committee.
A graduate of West Virginia University, Warner and his wife Joyce—a public school teacher—are proud parents of five children, all with service ties to the United States Air Force Academy, and have four grandchildren. As Secretary of State, Warner remains committed to election integrity, government transparency, and fostering a business-friendly climate in West Virginia.
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State Official Website – Kris Warner Biography