| Election Name: | 1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Type: | presidential |
| Country: | West Virginia |
| Previous Election: | 1968 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Previous Year: | 1968 |
| Next Election: | 1976 West Virginia gubernatorial election |
| Next Year: | 1976 |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Election Date: | November 7, 1972 |
| Image1: | File:Arch Moore 1969 crop.jpg |
| Nominee1: | Arch A. Moore Jr. |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 423,817 |
| Percentage1: | 54.74% |
| Nominee2: | Jay Rockefeller |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 350,462 |
| Percentage2: | 45.26% |
| Map Size: | 250px |
| Governor | |
| Before Election: | Arch A. Moore Jr. |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Arch A. Moore Jr. |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
The 1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1972, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Incumbent governor Arch A. Moore, Jr. successfully ran for reelection to a second term. This was the first time a governor was reelected in state history.
Both the primaries and general election were held in the aftermath of the Buffalo Creek flood and a movement to abolish strip mining in the state. Democratic nominee Jay Rockefeller campaigned on a proposal to abolish strip mining entirely if elected.[1]