Associated Press Published

W.Va. House, Senate Republicans Name Leaders

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  Republican lawmakers have chosen a new West Virginia Senate president and House of Delegates speaker.

The West Virginia Republican Party says Mercer County Sen. Bill Cole was named as Senate president and lieutenant governor during a caucus of GOP senators on Sunday. House Republicans named Kanawha County Delegate Tim Armstead as House speaker during their caucus.

In January, Republicans will hold majorities in both the House and the Senate for the first time in eight decades following the November general election.

Armstead previously served as House minority leader.