| Election Name: | 1872 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Type: | presidential |
| Previous Election: | 1870 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1870 |
| Next Election: | 1876 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1876 |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Election Date: | October 8, 1872 |
| Nominee1: | John J. Jacob |
| Party1: | People's Independent Party |
| Popular Vote1: | 42,888 |
| Percentage1: | 51.55% |
| Nominee2: | Johnson N. Camden |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 40,305 |
| Percentage2: | 48.45% |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | John J. Jacob |
| Before Party: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| After Election: | John J. Jacob |
| After Party: | People's Independent Party |
The 1872 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on October 8, 1872, to elect the governor of West Virginia.
Incumbent John Jeremiah Jacob was denied renomination by the Democratic Party, which was controlled by Camden. Jacob ran on the ad hoc "People's Independent" ticket with Republican support. He was re-elected by 2400 votes for a four-year term.[1] Camden's men controlled the legislature, and passed "ripper" laws that stripped Jacob of his appointment powers.
West Virginia began electing its governor to a 4-year term, starting this election. Previously the governor was elected to a 2-year term.