Earl Ray Tomblin Bio
Earl Ray Tomblin (born March 15, 1952) is an American politician who served as the 35th Governor of West Virginia from 2011 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he became one of the longest-serving state legislative leaders in West Virginia history before moving into the governor’s office. His career in public service spanned more than three decades and included leadership roles in both chambers of the West Virginia Legislature.
Tomblin first gained statewide attention as President of the West Virginia Senate, a position he held for nearly seventeen years. He rose to the governorship under unusual circumstances, beginning as acting governor in 2010 before winning election to the office in his own right. Known for his steady style and focus on local issues, he remains a respected figure in the recent political history of his state.
Early Life and Background
Earl Ray Tomblin was born in Logan County, West Virginia, and grew up in the southern part of the state. He is the son of Freda M. Jarrell and Earl Tomblin. His mother was eighteen years old at the time of his birth, and the family was part of the close-knit Appalachian communities that have long defined Logan County.
From an early age, Tomblin was exposed to public life in a region where local politics shaped everyday concerns such as jobs, schools, and infrastructure. He attended public schools in West Virginia before continuing his education at the college level. His upbringing in coal-country West Virginia gave him firsthand experience with the economic challenges facing working families in the region.
Path to West Virginia Politics
Tomblin earned a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University, where he became a member of the Kappa Alpha Order. He later returned to school to complete a Master of Business Administration degree at Marshall University. His education in business laid the groundwork for a career focused on state budgeting, economic development, and the financial oversight of public institutions.
He first entered elective office in his early twenties, winning a seat in the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1974. Reelected in 1976 and 1978, he built a reputation as a reliable constituency-minded lawmaker from the southern counties of the state. His early success in the House provided a clear path to higher office and prepared him for the next stage of his career.
Earl Ray Tomblin Career
State Senate and Senate President (1980-2010)
In 1980, Tomblin won election to the West Virginia Senate representing the 7th district, which includes Boone, Lincoln, Logan, and Wayne counties. He was repeatedly reelected every four years, holding the seat for more than three decades. Over time, he became one of the most experienced legislators in the state capital.
On January 3, 1995, Tomblin was elected as the 48th President of the West Virginia Senate. He went on to hold that role for almost seventeen years, making him the longest-serving Senate President in West Virginia history. In 2000, he became the first person to receive the honorary title of Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia when the state created that designation. His influence within the chamber grew steadily, and he was widely regarded as a skilled consensus builder.
Acting Governor (2010-2011)
Tomblin became acting governor of West Virginia in November 2010 after Joe Manchin resigned to take a seat in the United States Senate. He was the first person to serve as acting governor under the state’s current constitution. While serving in the role, he retained the title of Senate President, although he did not actively preside over legislative business during that period.
The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled on January 18, 2011, that a special gubernatorial election had to be held because more than one year remained in the term. Tomblin announced his intention to run in that election, beginning the formal campaign that would soon make him governor in his own right.
Governor of West Virginia (2011-2017)
Tomblin won the 2011 Democratic primary against a field of six candidates and faced Republican Bill Maloney, a Morgantown businessman, in the general election. He won that contest and was sworn in as governor on November 13, 2011, after resigning from the state senate. The victory gave him a clear mandate to complete the term left open by Manchin.
In 2012, Tomblin ran for a full term as governor and defeated Maloney in a rematch. As governor, he dealt with falling tax revenues tied to the state’s energy sector and worked with the legislature on issues including abortion policy, infrastructure, and education funding. A May 2013 survey showed his job approval rating at 69 percent, and a September 2013 Public Policy Polling survey placed it at 47 percent, with 35 percent disapproving. He was barred from running for a second full term in 2016 because a partial term counted toward the constitutional limit of two consecutive terms.
Earl Ray Tomblin Career Highlights
Governorship and Key Policy Decisions
During his time in office, Tomblin became known for his cautious approach to legislation. He publicly identified as anti-abortion, but in March 2014 he vetoed a bill that would have banned abortions in West Virginia after twenty weeks, citing constitutional concerns. He vetoed a similar bill again in March 2015, although the West Virginia Legislature overrode that veto.
Tomblin also took positions in federal elections, endorsing fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race. His work as governor focused on managing the state’s budget during a period of declining coal revenues and on supporting workforce and community college programs across West Virginia.
Earl Ray Tomblin Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Tomblin was born into a working family in Logan County and raised in the same region he would later represent. His parents, Freda M. Jarrell and Earl Tomblin, came from the local community, and his mother’s young age at his birth reflected the pattern common in mid-twentieth-century Appalachian families.
On September 8, 1979, Tomblin married Joanne Jaeger, a native of New York and a graduate of Marshall University. She served as president of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College from 1999 to 2015. The couple lives in Chapmanville, West Virginia, and has one son, Brent. Tomblin attends the First Presbyterian Church of Logan.