Thornton Cooper is a South Charleston-based attorney and 2024 Democratic nominee for West Virginia Secretary of State. He is an active member of the West Virginia State Bar since 1978 and has been involved in numerous public interest legal matters. Cooper has developed redistricting plans from 1981 to the present, participated in election-law court cases, and been a long-time activist in political campaigns since his teenage years. He currently serves as South Charleston Democratic Party Chairman. Cooper brings legal expertise and extensive experience in constitutional and electoral issues to the 2026 Senate race.
Thornton Cooper is a native and long-time resident of South Charleston, West Virginia. He is an attorney with extensive experience in constitutional law, election law, and public interest litigation. He has been active in Democratic Party politics throughout his adult life, running for West Virginia House of Delegates in 2012 (unsuccessful). He served as the Democratic Party nominee for Secretary of State in 2024. Cooper's legal career has focused on matters of public interest and constitutional importance, including redistricting, gubernatorial succession, school consolidation, and proper procedures for amending the West Virginia Constitution. He has been involved in numerous court proceedings at various levels, demonstrating deep commitment to legal and democratic processes.