Warren McGraw

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Warren McGraw is a long-serving politician and top trial lawyer in West Virginia, known for his close association with labor union leaders. He is a graduate of Morris Harvey College (now University of Charleston) and the Wake Forest University law school. He is the brother of West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw. The McGraws are the only brothers to have both held the office of Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. Warren has been married to his wife Peggy, a retired school teacher for over 43 years and they have 3 children. Warren Randolph McGraw II, who was elected 5 times to the West Virginia state legislature and was also elected to numerous executive committee positions. Rebecca and her mother Peggy helped to manage the campaigns. Warren and Peggy have 6 grandchildren. Kindra McGraw, Warren Randolph McGraw III, Alayna Dimlich, Conor Dimlich, McKenzie Thaxton and Maverick Thaxton.

He is a member of the United States Democratic Party. He was elected to the state Senate in 1972 and re-elected through a term ending in 1985. He was elected the president of the Senate (and Lt. Governor) in 1981 and was re-elected in 1983.

In 1984 he gave up his Senate seat to enter the primary election for Governor of West Virginia. However, he finished second in a three-way election after being outspent by more than 15 to 1. He then resumed his career as a lawyer.

In 1990 he was elected to his local school board. In 1996 he was elected Prosecuting Attorney. In 1998 he was elected to an unexpired 6 year term on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals. He was later elected Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He was defeated by Brent D. Benjamin in 2004. McGraw's campaign in this election is documented in the award winning film The Last Campaign by Wayne Ewing, a follow up to the very successful and popular film If Elected which followed his first campaign for State Senate and was featured on Bill Moyers Journal.

His web site is www.warrenmcgraw.com