Charles Samuel Trump IV (born October 3, 1960) is an American lawyer and former Republican member of the West Virginia Senate. He represented the 15th district, which covers parts of the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. He is a justice-elect of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, having been elected for a 12 year term beginning on January 1, 2025 in the May 2024 non-partisan election. Trump is of no relation to President Donald Trump.

Charles Trump
Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
Elect
Assuming office
January 1, 2025
SucceedingJohn A. Hutchison
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 15th district
In office
December 1, 2014 – December 10, 2024
Preceded byDonald Cookman
Succeeded byVacant
Minority Leader of the West Virginia House of Delegates
In office
January 13, 1999 – December 1, 2006
Preceded byBob Ashley
Succeeded byTim Armstead
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates
from the 51st district
In office
December 1, 1992 – December 1, 2006
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byDaryl Cowles
Personal details
Born
Charles Samuel Trump IV

(1960-10-03) October 3, 1960 (age 64)
Winchester, Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseSusan Keller Johnston
Children3
EducationPrinceton University (BA)
West Virginia University (JD)

Biography

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Trump graduated with an A.B. in politics from Princeton University in 1982 after completing a 118-page long senior thesis titled "Realignment and Dealignment: Two Eras of Political Upheaval in West Virginia."[1] He then received a J.D. from West Virginia University College of Law.[2] Trump was elected recorder of Berkeley Springs, West Virginia in 1987. He served in the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1992 until 2006, serving as minority whip from 1994 until 1998 and minority leader from 1998 until 2006. Trump was a member of the Electoral College in 2000 for George W. Bush. He successfully ran for the Senate in 2014.[3] He resigned from the Senate in December 2024 prior to taking office as a justice of the state supreme court.[4]

Personal life

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Trump and his wife, Susan, have three children: Charles, Rebecca, and Michael.[3]

Election results

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West Virginia Senate District 15 (Position A) election, 2018[5]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles S. Trump (incumbent) 25,937 71.06%
Independent Jason A. Armentrout 10,562 28.94%
Total votes 36,499 100.0%
West Virginia Senate District 15 (Position A) election, 2014[6]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Charles S. Trump 17,609 67.13%
Democratic Donald H. Cookman (incumbent) 8,622 32.87%
Total votes 26,231 100.0%

References

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  1. ^ Trump, I. V. (1982). "Realignment and Dealignment: Two Eras of Political Upheaval in West Virginia". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ "West Virginia Senate Biography". www.wvlegislature.gov. Retrieved June 11, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Charles Trump IV's Biography". Project VoteSmart. Retrieved November 11, 2016.
  4. ^ "Charles Trump resigns state Senate in advance of taking office as West Virginia Supreme Court justice". www.wvmetronews.com. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  5. ^ "Statewide Results: General Election - November 6, 2018". West Virginia Secretary of State. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "Statewide Results: General Election – November 4, 2014". West Virginia Secretary of State. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
West Virginia House of Delegates
Preceded by Minority Leader of the West Virginia House of Delegates
1999–2006
Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
Taking officer 2025
Elect