Trenton Barnhart and Ronnie Green Vie for West Virginia Senate Seat

Voters across West Virginia Senate District 3 face a consequential choice on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, as appointed incumbent Trenton Barnhart defends his seat against Constitution Party challenger Ronnie Green to finish out the unexpired term.

The Path to the Appointment and the Legislative Record

Trenton Barnhart stepped into the Senate seat earlier this year following the retirement of Donna Boley. Gov. Patrick Morrisey appointed Barnhart to the vacancy in January, drawing on a legislative background that began in 2019 when Barnhart first joined the House of Delegates and subsequently won reelection three times.

District 3 spans Pleasants, Ritchie, Wood, and Wirt counties. Under state constitutional rules, the district’s two senators cannot reside in the same county. Sen. Mike Azinger, a Republican from Wood County, occupies the other district seat and faces Democrat Caci Petrehn of Parkersburg in the General Election.

I’m honored to be endorsed by West Virginians for Life! Together, we will continue standing up for the unborn and advocating for the value and dignity of every life. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/PofdmBH6CZ

— https://x.com/Tbarn_WV/status/2105033589834514808

“I’m very committed to do everything I can to advance our communities and make West Virginia a place people not only want to come to but want to stay,” Barnhart said, according to News and Sentinel. “I’m tired of seeing people leave our state for other opportunities.”

Barnhart, a 29-year-old resident of St. Marys who works as a business development officer for Citizens Bank of West Virginia, frames his campaign around fiscal conservatism and tax relief. During his legislative tenure, lawmakers eliminated over a billion dollars in tax burdens for state residents, cutting income taxes and removing taxes on Social Security. He also points to the personal property tax rebate program and the business and inventory tax credit for small businesses, both enacted in 2023. These tax cuts, fueled by state budget surpluses, have freed up revenue for economic development, tourism, and state employee pay raises.

Challenger Ronnie Green on Constitutional Limits and Senior Tax Relief

Challenging the incumbent is 58-year-old Ronnie Green of Elizabeth, an operations manager for Locomote Express. Green entered the race after being approached by fellow Constitution Party members. He pledges to vote strictly within the confines of the state and federal constitutions, aiming to steer the legislature back toward the original intentions of the founding fathers.

“I’m not a politician, but I think that could be a plus,” Green said, as reported by News and Sentinel. “I think the people in there are just yes to the party, yes to the party.”

Green centers his platform on protecting First and Second Amendment rights while advocating strongly for medical freedom, specifically opposing vaccine mandates that keep students out of school. He maintains that individuals retain the absolute right to decide what enters their bodies. On fiscal policy, Green supports accountability and lower taxes, with a particular focus on senior citizens.

“As approaching retirement age myself, I am especially interested in eliminating property taxes for seniors,” Green said.

The Ballot Details and Official Tracking

The matchup for the District 3 unexpired term features prominently on local ballots in Ritchie County and across the wider district. Tracking data from official West Virginia election office filings and The Ballot Brief confirms that Barnhart and Green are the two certified candidates appearing on the November 3, 2026 ballot.

As voters weigh Barnhart’s legislative track record of tax cuts against Green’s outsider platform focused on constitutional adherence and senior tax relief, the outcome will determine who permanently fills the remainder of Boley’s historic Senate term.