Name: Jeffrey V. Kessler

Office: United States Senate

Website: kessler2026.com

Social Media:

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Contact: jeffkessler2026@gmail

Biography:

Jeff graduated from Bishop Donahue High School in 1974 and from West Liberty State College with highest honors in December, 1977, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in both Economics and Political Science.

Thereafter, he attended the West Virginia University College of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in May, 1981.  Since that time, Mr. Kessler has practiced law in Moundsville, West Virginia.  He is a founding partner in the law firm of Berry, Kessler, Crutchfield, Taylor & Gordon.  In his legal practice, Jeff served as City Solicitor for the City of Benwood and as Municipal Court Judge for the City of McMechen.  He served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in Marshall County from 1985 to 2000, and as a Special Prosecutor in Ohio and Wetzel Counties. 

He engages in the general practice of law with an emphasis in injury and insurance litigation, small business and commercial representation, real estate and elder law/estate planning.

On November 10, 1997, Jeff was appointed to the West Virginia State Senate for the Second Senatorial District.  He has been elected to the office in 1998, 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012.  Senator Kessler was appointed as Chairman of the powerful Senate Judiciary during the 2003 session.  He has served as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee and as Vice-Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Economic Development.  On January 12, 2011, he was elected by the Senate as the first and only Acting President in the history of the West Virginia Senate.  He was elected to serve as President of the Senate in 2012.  As President of the Senate, he also held the title of Lieutenant Governor of the State West Virginia. In 2014 Jeff was elected to serve as the Democrat Senate Minority Leader. Jeff thereafter ran unsuccessfully in 2026 for Governor of WV. 

He played a pivotal role in passing legislation to improve West Virginia.  He was a major sponsor of the Economic Development Grant Committee and tax increment financing legislation which led to the Highlands in Ohio County and other significant statewide infrastructure projects. Senator Kessler spearheaded the passage of Election law reform.  He also served as the Senate Chair of the Legislature’s Special Investigative Committee on Mine Safety surrounding the Sago Mine disaster.  He spearheaded the passage of the West Virginia Future Fund to create a long-term endowment plan resulting from the oil and gas development in West Virginia.

Senator Kessler currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation of the Ohio Valley and Reynolds Memorial Hospital – WVU Medicine.  He formerly served upon boards of the United Way, BB&T Bank, Ohio Valley Regional Economic Development Corporation (now RED) and the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce.  He is the chair of the State Bar District 2 Character Committee, a member of the West Virginia Law Institute, the West Virginia Association for Justice and a member of the WVU College of Law Visiting Committee.