ABOUT TRENTON BARNHART

Trenton Barnhart is a lifelong West Virginian serving in the West Virginia State Senate. 

 

Raised in St. Marys, where he still lives today, Trenton grew up in a family that valued faith, personal responsibility, and respect for hard work. He graduated from St. Marys High School and attended the University of Charleston, where he ran cross-country and track. Competing at the collegiate level taught him discipline, consistency, and how to keep going when things get hard—lessons that have carried through every part of his life since. While in college, he also stayed deeply involved in campus, serving as student body vice president and leading the College Republicans, while working jobs to help support himself.

 

Upon graduation, Trenton went to work for the West Virginia State Auditor’s Office in the Public Integrity Unit. There, he audited government spending and agency practices, gaining firsthand experience with how state government operates and how important transparency and accountability are to maintaining public trust. That experience shaped his understanding of public service early: government exists to serve the people, not itself. 

 

Before ever holding office, Trenton also worked inside the Legislature as a clerk for the House Education Committee. In September 2019, he was appointed to the West Virginia House of Delegates, becoming one of the youngest members to serve at the time.

 

While in the House, Trenton built a reputation for being prepared, accessible, and grounded. He didn’t focus on headlines, he focused on listening, learning, and representing his district with seriousness and humility. Outside the Capitol, Trenton built a career in community banking where he helps small businesses grow and local employers succeed. 

 

In January 2026, Trenton was appointed to the West Virginia State Senate, continuing a path of public service that began long before he ever held office. 

 

Trenton lives in St Marys with his wife, Brooke, and their dog, Teddy. He attends church locally, stays involved in his community, and believes elected office comes with a simple obligation: be accessible, be honest, and remember who sent you there.