2000 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary explained

Election Name:2000 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary
Country:West Virginia
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1996 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary
Previous Year:1996
Next Election:2004 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary
Next Year:2004
Candidate1:Al Gore
Colour1:3333FF
Home State1:Tennessee
Delegate Count1:27
Popular Vote1:182,403
Percentage1:72.01%
Candidate2:Bill Bradley
(withdrawn)
Colour2:FA8320
Home State2:New Jersey
Delegate Count2:3
Popular Vote2:46,710
Percentage2:18.44%
Image3: AM
Candidate3:Angus W. McDonald
Colour3:008080
Home State3:West Virginia
Delegate Count3:0
Popular Vote3:19,374
Percentage3:7.65%
Map Size:280px
Outgoing Members:NE
Elected Members:OR
Votes For Election:42 delegates to the Democratic National Convention (30 pledged, 12 unpledged)
The number of pledged delegates received is determined by the primary vote
Pledged national
convention
delegates
Type
CD16
CD26
CD37
4
At-large7
Total pledged delegates30

The 2000 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary took place on May 9, 2000 alongside the Nebraska primary, as part of the Democratic Party primaries for the 2000 presidential election. The West Virginia primary was a semi-closed primary, with the state awarding 42 delegates to the 2000 Democratic National Convention, of whom 30 were pledged delegates allocated on the basis of the primary results.

Vice president and recently determined presumptive nominee Al Gore swept the state and won 27 delegates with 72% of the vote, winning all 55 counties. Former senator Bill Bradley made the delegate threshold with little more than 18%, and Angus Wheeler McDonald, a farmer and resident of Charles Town, West Virginia, who did not appear on the ballot in any other state, received 7%.

Procedure

West Virginia's Democratic primary took place on May 9th, 2000, the same date as the Nebraska primary.[1]

Voting took place throughout the state from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m.

In the semi-closed primary, candidates had to meet a threshold of 15 percent at the congressional district or statewide level in order to be considered viable. The 42 pledged delegates to the 2000 Democratic National Convention were allocated proportionally on the basis of the results of the primary. Of these, between 6 and 7 were allocated to each of the state's 3 congressional districts and another 4 were allocated to party leaders and elected officials (PLEO delegates), in addition to 7 at-large delegates.

The delegation included 11 unpledged PLEO delegates: 6 members of the Democratic National Committee and 5 members of Congress, two senators (Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, and 3 representatives (Alan Mollohan, Bob Wise, and Nick Rahall).

Candidates

The following candidates appeared on the ballot:

Withdrawn

There was also an uncommitted option.

Results

2000 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary[2] ! Candidate! Votes! %! Delegates[3]
Al Gore182,40372.0127
Bill Bradley (withdrawn)46,71018.443
Angus McDonald19,3747.65rowspan=2
Lyndon LaRouche Jr.4,8231.90
Uncommitted--12
Total253,310100%42

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Presidential Primaries, Caucuses, and Conventions Chronologically - Key and Minor Dates. The Green Papers. September 3, 2023.
  2. Web site: WEST VIRGINIA BLUE BOOK 2000. West Virginia Secretary of State. October 19, 2023.
  3. Web site: Election 2000: West Virginia Democrat. The Green Papers. September 3, 2023.