Jeffrey Vincent Kessler is a former West Virginia State Senator and former President of the West Virginia Senate with 20 years of legislative service (1997-2017). Born November 16, 1955, in Wheeling, West Virginia, Kessler is an attorney and partner in the law firm Berry, Kessler, Crutchfield, Taylor & Gordon. He also served as municipal court judge in McMechen (1982-1989), city solicitor in Benwood (1983-1997), and in various Senate leadership roles. Kessler earned his B.A. from West Liberty State College (1977), J.D. from West Virginia College of Law (1981), and is an active member of the West Virginia State Bar since 1978. He previously ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 2011 and 2016, and for West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in a special election. Kessler brings substantial legislative experience and legal expertise to the 2026 Senate race.
Kessler was born and raised in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and has deep roots in the state. He is a life-long activist with history of public service spanning from his teenage years. Kessler has been involved in election law court cases against prior Secretaries of State. He has focused much of his career on economic development for struggling regions, particularly coal country, through initiatives like SCORE. He is an active member of the West Virginia State Bar with litigation experience before multiple court levels. Kessler has run for statewide office multiple times (Governor 2011, 2016; Supreme Court 2018), showing consistent political engagement. He returned to private legal practice after leaving state senate but maintains focus on West Virginia economic and social issues.