During a special session in March 1920, the West Virginia Legislature passed a resolution by a vote of 47-40 in the House and 16-13 in the Senate giving women the right to vote. West Virginia became the 34th state to pass such a resolution. The resolution came after nearly 15 years of activism from various women’s rights organizations such as the West Virginia Equal Suffrage Association, led by Lena Lowe Yost. After her successful push for women’s suffrage in the state, Yost became the first woman appointed to preside over a state party convention.
A few months after the passage of the amendment in West Virginia, the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, giving all women in the country the legal right to vote.
Women not only received the right to vote but also the chance to become publicly involved in government and politics in West Virginia and all around the country. Before the ratification of the 19th amendment, women were not allowed to run for office under Article 4, Section 4 of West Virginia’s Constitution because they did not have the legal right to vote.
Two years later, in 1922, the first woman was elected to the West Virginia Legislature. Anna Johnson Gates served as a delegate from Kanawha County for one term. While a member, Gates served as the Chairperson of the Committee on Arts, Science and General Improvements, another first for a woman. Her appointment to the position showed that a woman could serve in a decisive manner.
During her first speech as a member of the Legislature, Anna Gates stated, “Women in most states are awakening to their political responsibilities. The women do not urge the election of women as women, but believe women should be represented in office, and only ask for cooperation.” Other women began to heed her advice and run for office.
Minnie Buckingham Harper, from McDowell County, was the first African-American woman to serve in the Legislature, having been appointed to the position after the death of her husband Delegate E. Howard Harper. It wouldn’t be until 1950 when the first African-American woman was officially elected to the state legislature.
Elizabeth Simpson Drewry, from McDowell County, served in the West Virginia Legislature for six terms. During her service, Drewry introduced numerous bills calling for changes in the school system and health care for women. She also sponsored the 1955 resolution that would allow women the right to serve on juries. Women were finally given this right throughout the state in 1956 thanks in large part to the women representing them in the state legislature.
The first woman officially elected to the West Virginia Senate was Betty H. Baker, from Hardy County in 1966. Baker had been appointed to the Senate the year before when her husband, Senator Donald Baker died. After finishing out the term, Baker decided to run for re-election and won. During her service in the Senate, Baker earned the respect of her fellow male colleagues because of her strong work ethic in committees, and was appointed to chair the Senate Agriculture Committee.
It has been almost 90 years since women were given the right to vote as well as to run for public office. Yet even with the right to vote, women have had to struggle to be seen as serious members of mainstream politics and government. Clare Boothe Luce, a successful playwright as well as diplomat, said in 1905, “Because I am a woman, I must make unusual efforts to succeed. If I fail, no one will say, she doesn’t have what it takes. They will say, women don’t have what it takes.”
Since Delegate Gate’s term in 1922, almost 200 women have served in the West Virginia Legislature. Today, there are two in the Senate and 17 in the House. The 78th Legislature, which began last year and runs through this session, also marks another first for women as two delegates have been appointed chairpersons for two major committees. Delegate Mary Poling, from Barbour County, chairs the Education Committee and Delegate Carrie Webster, from Kanawha County, chairs the Judiciary.
