Photo Courtesy/WV Legislative Photography Del. Darren Thorne attends a legislative interim meeting in November in Charleston. Thorne will succeed former Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Trump in the West Virginia Senate.

CHARLESTON — Gov. Jim Justice appointed Del. Darren Thorne to succeed former Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Trump on the West Virginia Senate as Trump takes his seat on the state Supreme Court of Appeals.

In a one paragraph press release Friday afternoon, Justice appointed Thorne, R-Hampshire, to one of the two senate seats representing the 15th Senatorial District, which includes Hampshire and Morgan counties, as well as part of Berkeley County.

Thorne was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2022 and was reelected to a second two-year term in November. He was challenged by Democratic opponent Alyson Reeves, defeating her with more than 79% of the vote.

“I’m honored that Governor Justice has chosen me to be the next Senator from the 15th District,” Thorne said in a separate statement Friday. “I have greatly enjoyed my time in the House of Delegates, and I look forward to serving both my current constituents in Hampshire County and my new constituents in Morgan and Berkeley counties in this new role. I look forward to this opportunity and working with Senate leadership to help move West Virginia forward.”

Thorne will succeed former Republican Morgan County state senator Charles Trump, who resigned earlier this month as he prepares to take the oath of office next month after winning election in May to the state Supreme Court. According to his resignation letter, Trump’s resignation was effective on Dec. 10.

“It has been the great honor and privilege of my life to serve with you and our colleagues in the Senate over these last 10 years,” Trump wrote. “I have loved every minute of our work together for the citizens of West Virginia. I leave with a full heart, knowing that that under the continued leadership of the Senate, West Virginia has a bright future ahead.”

Trump, an attorney based in Berkeley Springs, served seven two-year terms in the House of Delegates, first elected in 1992 and serving until 2006. The Republican House caucus chose him to serve as House Minority Whip and House Minority Leader during his tenure in the House.

After an eight-year break from legislative service, Trump was recruited in 2014 to run for state Senate, defeating former Democratic state senator Donald Cookman. Trump won reelection to the Senate in 2022, defeating third party candidate Robin Mills by more than 60 points.

Trump served as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, one of the Senate’s major committees and busiest committees. Trump was unopposed in the May election, which serves as the general election for judicial races which are nonpartisan.

“I thank you and all our fellow senators, as well as the remarkable staff of the Senate, for the friendship and many kindnesses that have always been extended to me by everyone,” Trump wrote in his resignation letter.