| Kent Leonhardt | |
| Office: | Agriculture Commissioner of West Virginia |
| Governor: | Jim Justice |
| Term Start: | January 16, 2017 |
| Predecessor: | Walt Helmick |
| State Senate1: | West Virginia |
| District1: | 2nd |
| Term Start1: | December 1, 2014 |
| Term End1: | January 16, 2017 |
| Predecessor1: | Larry J. Edgell |
| Successor1: | Charles H. Clements |
| Birth Date: | 2 April 1954 |
| Birth Place: | New Jersey |
| Party: | Republican |
| Education: | University of Missouri, Columbia (BA) Central Michigan University (MBA) |
Kent Leonhardt (born April 2, 1954) is the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture. Having been elected in November 2016,[1] he took office January 2017. He is a member of the United States Republican Party.
Leonhardt is a farmer operating a 380acres farm in western Monongalia County, West Virginia. He raises sheep, cattle, and goats. He formerly served in the West Virginia State Senate for the 2nd district.[2] He is retired from the United States Marine Corps as a lieutenant colonel. He holds a degree in wildlife management from the University of Missouri and an MBA from Central Michigan University.[3]
| West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Democratic | Walt Helmick | 316,591 | 51.59 | |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 297,088 | 48.41 | |
| West Virginia Senate 2nd District Election, 2014 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 13,034 | 49.99 | |
| Democratic | Larry J. Edgell (inc.) | 12,358 | 47.40 | |
| Constitution | Jeffrey Jarrell | 681 | 2.61 | |
| West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 321,560 | 48.41 | |
| Democratic | Walt Helmick (inc.) | 274,191 | 41.28 | |
| Libertarian | Buddy A. Guthrie | 68,502 | 10.31 | |
| West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Election, 2020 [4] | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 480,386 | 65.00 | |
| Democratic | Robert Beach | 258,912 | 35.00 | |