Thornton Cooper
West Virginia Democratic Senate nominee?
$50.9K
MAY 19, 2026Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleAttorney
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyLiberal Democrat
LocationWest Virginia
BackgroundAttorney
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EducationYale University (graduated 1972)
Notable personal detailsThornton Cooper is a West Virginia attorney and retired state employee from South Charleston. He was the Democratic nominee for West Virginia Secretary of State in 2024 and later ran for the U.S. Senate in West Virginia in 2026. He is a Yale University graduate and attended West Virginia University College of Law.
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Positions
Economy & Taxes
The candidate has expressed support for raising the minimum wage and for making it easier to start and operate small businesses (including improving the state’s business portal). There are no clear statements on tax policy or proposals for taxation levels, corporate taxes, or major fiscal changes in the available campaign materials.
Healthcare
The candidate opposes West Virginia Amendment 1 (which would constitutionally ban physician-assisted suicide) and supports allowing medical aid-in-dying for competent, terminal patients as an element of bodily autonomy. No clear public evidence was found of a broader, comprehensive position on health coverage, Medicaid, or the Affordable Care Act.
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Public Safety & Guns
The candidate supports local restrictions on firearms in certain public facilities, opposing a 2014 state law that allowed concealed weapons in city recreation facilities and arguing city governments should be able to ban concealed weapons in such locations. This indicates support for targeted gun safety restrictions while not advocating a broad ban on gun ownership.
News
Thornton Cooper is in the news mainly because of West Virginia election-related developments. The state is among those facing a DOJ lawsuit over voter registration list access, and it is also being discussed in coverage of the SAVE Act and 2026 voting requirements. Separate reporting also says West Virginia is considering expanded "medical conscience" bills that would let healthcare providers refuse more services on religious or moral grounds.
‘Medical conscience’ bills would let providers refuse more health care
DOJ Sues 5 More States Over Voter Roll Access
US Justice Department sues five more states over voter registration lists
Google searches for ‘help with mortgage’ surge past 2008 levels
Endorsements
Endorsers of Thornton Cooper for West Virginia Democratic Senate nominee?
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