John Perdue

John D. Perdue (born June 22, 1950) is an American politician who served as the 24th West Virginia State Treasurer from 1997 to 2021.

Purdue was born in Boone County, West Virginia and grew up on a small farm. In 1972 he graduated from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture. Whilst at University he was active in 4-H and the Future Farmers of America, becoming a 4-H All Star.

He has a wife, Robin, with whom he has two daughters. He has many family members as well.

Political career
In 1989 he became Executive Assistant to West Virginia Governor Gaston Caperton, serving as a member of his staff for eight years.

In 1996 he won election as state treasurer as a member of the Democratic Party, a position he would hold for six terms. He was easily re-elected in his subsequent three elections, with no Republican even filing to run against him in 2000 and 2008.

Following Governor Joe Manchin's resignation in 2010 to take his seat in the US Senate, he stood in the subsequent gubernatorial special election. He finished fourth in the Democratic Primary, which was won by Earl Ray Tomblin.

His re-election in 2012 was closer than previous elections, winning 55% of the vote compared to his previous lowest of 60%. In 2016 he was re-elected with 50.4% of the vote, whilst Republican Donald Trump won the state in the concurrent Presidential election with 68.5% of the vote.

Following governor Jim Justice’s defection to the Republican Party in 2017, Purdue was left as the only Democrat holding statewide office in West Virginia besides Joe Manchin.

Perdue lost his bid for a seventh term in 2020 to Republican Riley Moore. His 24 year tenure as treasurer is the longest in the history of the office.

In December 2021 he was appointed by Joe Biden as State Executive Director for USDA's Farm Service Agency in West Virginia.