Longtime U.S. Senator and the 29th Governor of West Virginia Jay Rockefeller died Thursday, Nov. 6, 2026, according to a news release from his family.
Rockefeller was 89 years old.
Fairness West Virginia Executive Director Andrew Schneider had the following to say about Rockefeller in the wake of his passing:
“There’s something to be said for someone who, throughout their life, strives to do the right thing. Former U.S. Senator and West Virginia Governor Jay Rockefeller was an example of how we can do better when we know better.
As a U.S. Senator, Rockefeller supported the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which prohibited same-sex couples from accessing certain federal benefits.
By 2013, Rockefeller, in his mid-70s, said the influence of “younger people in West Virginia and my own children” had led him to think deeply about “what it means for all Americans to be created equal.”
In short, he changed his mind, saying “the government shouldn’t discriminate against people who want to marry just because of their gender.”
Jay Rockefeller came to West Virginia to help make it better, and he showed time and again that West Virginians likewise helped him become better too.
It’s a reminder that no one is perfect in their stride toward their highest ideals, but when we have honest, supportive, and respectful conversations, we can get closer to achieving a better world for all of us.
His memory is a blessing. May he rest in peace.”