Prediction Edge
Democrat
Thornton Cooper

Thornton Cooper

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Overview

Current roleAttorney

PartyDemocratic

Political ideologyLiberal Democrat

LocationWest Virginia

BackgroundAttorney

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EducationYale University (B.A., 1972)

Notable personal detailsStuart Thornton Cooper is a West Virginia attorney and retired state employee from South Charleston. He has been a member of the West Virginia State Bar for decades and previously worked for the West Virginia Human Rights Commission, the Division of Highways legal division, and the Public Service Commission, retiring in 2005. He was the Democratic nominee for West Virginia Secretary of State in 2024 and ran in the 2026 Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in West Virginia.

SourcesShow
wvnews.comthegreenpapers.comen.wikipedia.orgwestvirginiawatch.commartindale.comblueskiesaheadwv.comhome.wvlegislature.govlaw.justia.comapps.npr.orgsenate.govvote-usa.orgmountainstatespotlight.orgvisionroot.orgwhsv.compolivion.comdominionpost.comapps.sos.wv.govcourtswv.govpsc.state.wv.usthorntoncooper.comweirtondailytimes.comiheart.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgballotready.orgrollcall.comtheintelligencer.netwvmetronews.commonroecountywv.govsecure.actblue.comtheintermountain.comwoay.comwvpress.orgpolitics1.comnewsandsentinel.comcityofsouthcharleston.comgrantthornton.comcongress.govgrantthornton.co.ukrunforsomething.netwdtv.comwusa9.comwtap.comwvgazettemail.comballotpedia.orgnewsfromthestates.comwvva.cominstagram.comfacebook.comdemocrats.senate.govcapito.senate.govclerk.house.govgovinfo.govdocquery.fec.govhistory.house.gov

Positions

LiberalConservative

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.

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