West Virginia now has youngest senator

Carte P. Goodwin was appointed by Governor Joe Manchin last week to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of U.S. Senator Robert Byrd.

He will hold the seat until Byrd’s successor is chosen in a special election later this year.  

Goodwin, 36, said he will not be a candidate for the Senate seat this fall.
A Charleston attorney and former chief legal counsel, Goodwin will be the youngest sitting member of the U.S. Senate.

“Regardless of whoever occupies this seat now and in the future, it will always be known as West Virginia’s United States Senate Seat that was occupied for nearly 52 years by our beloved, faithful public servant, Robert C. Byrd.” said Manchin. “However, I am truly confident that Carte Goodwin will look out for West Virginia and he will make us proud.”

Goodwin is currently an attorney with the Charleston law firm of Goodwin & Goodwin, LLP. He lives in Charleston with his wife and son.

He previously served for four years as general counsel to Governor Manchin.  During this time, he also chaired the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Judicial Nominations. 

In addition, Goodwin chaired the
West Virginia School Building Authority and served as a member of the State Consolidated Public Retirement Board. 

Following his return to private practice in 2009, he chaired the Independent Commission on Judicial Reform, which evaluated the need for reforming West Virginia’s judicial system.

Manchin said that with the appointment, another generation is taking up the mantle of leadership. 

Before working in the governor’s office, Goodwin served as a law clerk for Judge Robert King of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. 

A native of Mt. Alto, West Virginia, Goodwin received his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Marietta College in 1996 and a law degree from the Emory University School of Law in 1999.

“I have no agenda, other than fighting for my state and putting the interests of her people first,” Goodwin said. 

“I cannot begin to replace Senator Byrd, nor can I hope to ever fill his shoes.  But what I can do is emulate his work ethic and his commitment to West Virginia,” Goodwin said.