CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – A proposed constitutional amendment (SJR 19) introduced Thursday in the West Virginia State Senate would require future governors to be native-born West Virginians.
The resolution was introduced by Rupie Phillips (R-Logan) and has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, and then to the Committee on Finance.
The measure proposes amending Article VII, Section 1 of the West Virginia Constitution, which governs the executive branch.
Under the proposed amendment, a person would be prohibited from being elected as governor or serving as governor unless they were born in West Virginia.
Because the change would alter the state constitution, it cannot take effect unless approved by voters.
If the Legislature approves the resolution by a two-thirds vote in both the House of Delegates and the Senate, the proposed amendment would be placed on the ballot for the 2026 general election.
Voters would then decide whether to ratify or reject the amendment. If approved by a majority of voters statewide, the requirement that the governor be West Virginia-born would be added to the state constitution.
