Earl Ray Tomblin (born March 15, 1952) is an American politician who served as the 35th governor of West Virginia from 2011 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served in the West Virginia Senate from 1980 to 2011 and as president of the West Virginia Senate from 1995 to 2011. Tomblin became acting governor in November 2010 following Joe Manchin's election to the U.S. Senate. He won a special election in October 2011 to fill the unexpired term ending on January 14, 2013, and was elected to a full term as governor in November 2012.

This article is missing information about his political positions. (May 2020)

Quick Facts 35th Governor of West Virginia, Lieutenant ...

Earl Ray Tomblin
35th Governor of West Virginia
In office November 13, 2011 – January 16, 2017 Acting: November 15, 2010 – November 13, 2011
Lieutenant	Jeff Kessler Bill Cole
Preceded by	Joe Manchin
Succeeded by	Jim Justice
President of the West Virginia Senate Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia[lower-alpha 1]
In office January 3, 1995 – November 13, 2011
Governor	Gaston Caperton Cecil Underwood Bob Wise Joe Manchin Himself (acting)
Preceded by	Keith Burdette
Succeeded by	Jeff Kessler
Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 7th district
In office December 1, 1980 – November 13, 2011
Preceded by	Ned Grubb
Succeeded by	Art Kirkendoll
Personal details
Born	(1952-03-15) March 15, 1952 (age 72) Logan County, West Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Joanne Jaeger ​ (m. 1979)​
Children	1
Education	West Virginia University (BS) Marshall University (MBA)
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Tomblin was born in Logan County, West Virginia, and is the son of Freda M. (née Jarrell) and Earl Tomblin. His mother was 18 years old when he was born.^[1] He has a Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia University where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order and then went along to receive a Master of Business Administration degree from Marshall University.^[2]

Tomblin was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1974, and reelected in 1976 and 1978. He won election to the Senate for the 7th district in 1980 and was subsequently re-elected every four years until his election as governor.

Tomblin was elected on January 3, 1995, as the 48th President of the West Virginia Senate. Having served in the position for almost seventeen years, he is the longest serving Senate President in West Virginia's history. Tomblin became the first Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia upon creation of the honorary designation in 2000.

As a senator, he represented the 7th Senate District encompassing Boone, Lincoln, Logan, and Wayne counties.^[3]

Tomblin was married on September 8, 1979, to Joanne Jaeger, a native New Yorker and graduate of Marshall University, who served as the president of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College from 1999 to 2015.^[15][16] They reside in Chapmanville and have one son, Brent. Tomblin attends the First Presbyterian Church of Logan.