Kent Leonhardt
American politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kent Leonhardt (born April 2, 1954) is the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture. Having been elected in November 2016,[1] he took office January 2017. He is a member of the United States Republican Party.
GovernorJim Justice
Patrick Morrisey
Patrick Morrisey
Preceded byWalt Helmick
Preceded byLarry J. Edgell
Succeeded byCharles H. Clements
Kent Leonhardt | |
|---|---|
| 17th Agriculture Commissioner of West Virginia | |
| Assumed office January 16, 2017 | |
| Governor | Jim Justice Patrick Morrisey |
| Preceded by | Walt Helmick |
| Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 2nd district | |
| In office December 1, 2014 – January 16, 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Larry J. Edgell |
| Succeeded by | Charles H. Clements |
| Personal details | |
| Born | April 2, 1954 New Jersey, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | University of Missouri, Columbia (BA) Central Michigan University (MBA) |
Leonhardt is a farmer operating a 380-acre (150 ha) farm in western Monongalia County, West Virginia. He raises sheep, cattle, and goats. He formerly served in the West Virginia State Senate for the 2nd district.[2] He is retired from the United States Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel. He holds a degree in wildlife management from the University of Missouri and an MBA from Central Michigan University.[3]
Electoral history
| West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2012 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Democratic | Walt Helmick | 316,591 | 51.59 |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 297,088 | 48.41 |
| West Virginia Senate 2nd District Election, 2014 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 13,034 | 49.99 |
| Democratic | Larry J. Edgell (inc.) | 12,358 | 47.40 |
| Constitution | Jeffrey Jarrell | 681 | 2.61 |
| West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 321,560 | 48.41 |
| Democratic | Walt Helmick (inc.) | 274,191 | 41.28 |
| Libertarian | Buddy A. Guthrie | 68,502 | 10.31 |
| West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2020 [4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 480,386 | 64.98 |
| Democratic | Robert Beach | 258,912 | 35.02 |
| West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2024 [4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 490,964 | 69.14 |
| Democratic | Deborah Stiles | 219,131 | 30.86 |