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Kelly appointed to vacant West Virginia House of Delegates seat

Betsy Kelly (Photo Provided)

CHARLESTON — Pennsboro resident Betsy Kelly has been appointed to a vacant West Virginia House of Delegates seat.

Kelly, a 46-year-old Republican, was appointed by Gov. Patrick Morrisey Tuesday to the 9th District seat representing Pleasants, Ritchie and part of Tyler County.

“I was thrilled,” Kelly said of receiving the call from Morrisey. “It’s an honor to be serving with this administration.”

Kelly runs a farm and homeschools her daughters Isabella and Willow. She said she “fell in love” with the Legislature when she began serving as a page for state Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, in the sixth grade.

“I found it very intriguing,” she said. “I love the way that everybody gets to come up with ideas on how to best serve the people of West Virginia.”

Boley’s retirement in January set in motion the chain of events leading to Kelly’s appointment. She is filling the vacancy created when Morrisey appointed Trenton Barnhart, R-Pleasants, to Boley’s 3rd District Senate seat.

Kelly is joining the Legislature in the latter half of the 2026 session. She said she won’t be able to introduce any bills at this point but she will be able to vote for the ones she supports.

Having served as a page for multiple years, something her oldest daughter has done as well, and spent time at the Capitol when her father, Wood County Assessor John Kelly, was a delegate, Betsy Kelly said she won’t take long to acclimate to the environment.

“I’ve been here so much this feels like home,” she said.

In a press release announcing the appointment, Morrisey said Kelly shares values that define many West Virginians – “faith, family, hard work and a deep connection to the land.

“As a rural farmer and small-business owner, she understands firsthand the opportunities and challenges facing our agricultural communities and energy-producing regions. I am confident she will be a strong voice for the people of Pleasants, Ritchie, and Tyler counties.”

Kelly is one of six Republicans who filed to run for a full two-year term in the seat, with the primary set for May 12. She faces St. Marys residents Dan Boley and Mark Kimball, Scott McGraw of Belmont, Kerry G. Murphy of Macfarlan and Steve Thomas of Friendly. No Democrats filed, according to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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