2011 West Virginia gubernatorial special election explained

Election Name:	2011 West Virginia gubernatorial special election
Country:	West Virginia
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2008 West Virginia gubernatorial election
Previous Year:	2008
Next Election:	2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2012
Image1:	File:Earl Ray Tomblin 2 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Earl Ray Tomblin
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	149,202
Percentage1:	49.55%
Nominee2:	Bill Maloney
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	141,656
Percentage2:	47.05%
Map Size:	250px
Governor
Before Election:	Earl Ray Tomblin (acting)
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Earl Ray Tomblin
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 2011 West Virginia gubernatorial special election was a special election held on October 4, 2011 to fill the office of the West Virginia Governor, which became vacant upon the resignation of Joe Manchin, who resigned after he won a U.S. Senate special election. Lieutenant Governor and Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, first in the line of succession to the Governorship, subsequently became acting governor. On January 18, 2011, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that a special election for the Governorship must be held so a new governor can be in place by November 15, 2011, exactly one year after Manchin resigned.^[1] The primary election was held on May 14. Tomblin and Republican Bill Maloney won their respective primaries.^[2]

Tomblin defeated William Maloney by a slim margin, notably winning over 90% of the vote in his home county of Logan County. Tomblin was declared the winner of the election by the Associated Press on October 4, 2011 and was inaugurated on November 13, 2011.^{[3] [4]} With a margin of 2.5%, the special election was the closest race of the 2011 gubernatorial election cycle. Tomblin was re-elected Governor in 2012 in a rematch with Maloney.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Jeff Kessler, Acting President of the West Virginia Senate^[5]
• Arne Moltis^[6]
• John Perdue, West Virginia State Treasurer^[7]
• Natalie Tennant, West Virginia Secretary of State^[8]
• Rick Thompson, Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates^[9]
• Earl Ray Tomblin, Acting Governor and President of the West Virginia Senate^[10]

Declined

• Brooks McCabe, state senator^[11]
• Charlotte Pritt, former state senator, Democratic primary candidate for governor in 1992, Democratic nominee for governor in 1996 and write-in candidate for governor in 1992, and Mountain Party nominee for governor in 2016^[12]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Jeff Kessler	Arne Moltis	John Perdue	Natalie Tennant	Rick Thompson	Earl Ray Tomblin	Other/ Undecided
Public Policy Polling	May 11–12, 2011	742	± 3.6%	4%	1%	11%	17%	20%	align=center	33%	12%
Public Policy Polling	April 21–24, 2011	590	± 4.0%	5%	1%	17%	16%	15%	align=center	32%	14%

Primary results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Clark Barnes, state senator^[13]
• Mitch Carmichael, state delegate^[6]
• Ralph William Clark, professor
• Cliff Ellis
• Larry Faircloth, former State Delegate and candidate for governor in 2004^[6]
• Betty Ireland, former West Virginia Secretary of State^[14]
• Bill Maloney, businessman
• Mark Sorsaia, Putnam County District Attorney^[15]

Declined

• Shelley Moore Capito, U.S. Representative^[16]
• Patrick Lane, state delegate^[15]
• Jon McBride, retired United States naval officer; former NASA astronaut^[17]
• John Raese, businessman and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 1984, 2006, and 2010^[18]
• Mike Stuart, West Virginia Republican Party chairman^[19]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Clark Barnes	Mitch Carmichael	Ralph Clark	Cliff Ellis	Larry Faircloth	Betty Ireland	Bill Maloney	Mark Sorsaia	Other/ Undecided
Public Policy Polling	May 11–12, 2011	314	± 5.5%	8%	4%	1%	0%	6%	31%	align=center	32%	4%	14%
Public Policy Polling	April 21–24, 2011	274	± 5.9%	8%	8%	2%	1%	2%	align=center	31%	17%	4%	28%

Primary results

General election

Candidates

• Bob Henry Baber (Mountain), writer and former mayor of Richwood^[20]
• Rick Bartlett (write-in)^[21]
• Harry Bertram (American Third Position Party)
• Phil Hudok (write-in), teacher and registered Constitution Party member^[21]
• Marla Dee Ingels (Independent)^[22]
• Bill Maloney (Republican), Monongalia County businessman
• Earl Ray Tomblin (Democratic), Acting Governor and President of the West Virginia Senate^[10]
• Donald Lee Underwood (write-in)^[21]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	Rothenberg Political Report^[23]		November 4, 2011
Governing^[24]		November 4, 2011
Cook^[25]		November 4, 2011
Sabato^[26]		November 4, 2011

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Earl Ray Tomblin (D)	Bill Maloney (R)	Undecided
Public Policy Polling	September 30 – October 2, 2011	932	± 3.2%	align=center	47%	46%	7%
Public Policy Polling	September 1–4, 2011	708	± 3.7%	align=center	46%	40%	14%
Public Policy Polling	May 11–12, 2011	723	± 3.6%	align=center	45%	30%	25%
Public Policy Polling	April 21–24, 2011	850	± 3.4%	align=center	56%	23%	21%

Results

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Berkeley (largest municipality: Martinsburg)
• Calhoun (Largest city: Grantsville)
• Doddridge (largest municipality: West Union)
• Gilmer (Largest city: Glenville)
• Grant (largest municipality: Petersburg)
• Hampshire (largest municipality: Romney)
• Hardy (Largest city: Moorefield)
• Jackson (Largest city: Ravenswood)
• Jefferson (Largest city: Charles Town)
• Lewis (Largest city: Weston)
• Mineral (largest municipality: Keyser)
• Monongalia (Largest city: Morgantown)
• Monroe (Largest city: Peterstown)
• Morgan (largest municipality: Berkeley Springs)
• Ohio (Largest city: Wheeling)
• Pendleton (Largest city: Franklin)
• Pocahontas (Largest city: Marlinton)
• Preston (largest municipality: Kingwood)
• Putnam (largest municipality: Hurricane)
• Ritchie (largest municipality: Harrisville)
• Roane (Largest city: Spencer)
• Taylor (Largest city: Grafton)
• Tyler (Largest city: Paden City)
• Upshur (largest municipality: Buckhannon)
• Wirt (largest municipality: Elizabeth)
• Wood (largest municipality: Parkersburg)

External links

Campaign websites (Archived)

• Earl Ray Tomblin
• Bill Maloney
• Bob Henry Baber
• Phil Hudok
• Marla Ingels
• Jeff Kessler

Information

• Elections Division at the Secretary of State
  • 2011 Gubernatorial Election

• West Virginia Governor Candidates at Project Vote Smart
• Campaign contributions for 2011 West Virginia Governor from Follow the Money
• West Virginia Governor 2011 from OurCampaigns.com
• 2011 West Virginia Governor - Maloney vs. Tomblin Polling Data from Real Clear Politics

Notes and References

1. Web site: Court Orders West Virginia Special Election This Year. January 18, 2011. January 20, 2011. National Journal. Julie. Sobel. https://web.archive.org/web/20110131210722/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/01/court-orders-we.php. January 31, 2011. dead. mdy-all.
2. Web site: Catanese . David . Tomblin, Maloney win in West Virginia - David Catanese . Politico.Com . 2011-05-14 . 2013-04-11.
3. Web site: News from The Associated Press . Hosted.ap.org . 2011-10-05 . 2013-04-11.
4. Web site: Kaull . April . Earl Ray Tomblin Sworn in as W.Va. Governor - WOWK 13 Charleston, Huntington WV News, Weather, Sports . Wowktv.com . 2013-04-11 . 2012-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120406085212/http://www.wowktv.com/story/16027267/earl-ray-tomblin-to-be-inaugurated-as-west-virginias-governor . dead .
5. Web site: State Sen. Jeff Kessler Eyes W.Va. Governor's Mansion. October 28, 2010. January 20, 2011. WTRF-TV. Jim. Forbes. https://web.archive.org/web/20110726061733/http://wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=88576. July 26, 2011. dead.
6. News: 14 candidates for W.Va. governor ready to fight for the office . Mannix Porterfield . February 13, 2011. The Register-Herald. Beckley, West Virginia.
7. News: Perdue names former Dem chair to head campaign. October 6, 2010. January 20, 2011. Associated Press. Chris. Dickerson. https://web.archive.org/web/20120305162954/http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/201010061202. March 5, 2012. dead. Charleston Daily Mail.
8. Web site: Tennant Jumps Into Race For Governor. February 10, 2011. February 10, 2011. The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. Joselyn. King.
9. Web site: Thompson says he'll be on gubernatorial ballot. November 3, 2010. January 20, 2011. West Virginia Record. Chris. Dickerson.
10. Web site: W.Va. governor race begins. January 8, 2011. June 20, 2020. The Charleston Gazette. Alison. Knezevich.
11. Web site: Brooks McCabe to Run For Governor. August 27, 2010. January 20, 2011. WOWK-TV. https://web.archive.org/web/20110926211336/http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=85181&catid=192. September 26, 2011. dead.
12. Web site: Charlotte Pritt says she won't run for governor . Charleston Daily Mail . 2011-02-12 . 2013-04-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110708221411/http://www.dailymail.com/News/statehouse/201102120651 . 2011-07-08 . dead .
13. Web site: Barnes will seek governor's seat. October 5, 2010. January 20, 2011. The Inter-Mountain. Ben. Simmons. https://web.archive.org/web/20110928071619/http://theintermountain.com/page/content.detail/id/537619.html. September 28, 2011. dead.
14. Web site: Betty Ireland Announces Run for Governor. December 30, 2010. January 20, 2011. WSAZ-TV. Jeremy. Edwards. https://web.archive.org/web/20110929232936/http://www.wsaz.com/news/headlines/Betty_Ireland_Announces_Run_for_Governor_112681109.html. September 29, 2011. dead. mdy-all.
15. News: Candidate field for governor grows to 7. February 2, 2011. February 7, 2011. Associated Press. February 7, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110207154849/http://wvgazette.com/News/201102021385. dead.
16. Web site: Capito is pleased with special election decision. January 20, 2011. January 20, 2011. The Journal. John. McVey. September 27, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110927231903/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/554719/Capito-is-pleased-with-special-election-decision.html. dead.
17. Web site: Jon McBride says he's not running again. January 30, 2011. January 30, 2011. The Dominion Post. Jim. Bissett. https://web.archive.org/web/20120402135928/http://www.dailymail.com/ap/ApTopStories/201101300311. April 2, 2012. dead. McClatchy-Tribune (MCT). Charleston Daily Mail.
18. Web site: Raese Not Running. February 7, 2011. February 7, 2011. West Virginia MetroNews. March 15, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110315024631/http://www.wvmetronews.com/index.cfm?func=displayfullstory&storyid=43097. dead.
19. Web site: Stuart not running for governor. February 1, 2011. February 1, 2011. The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. Jess. Mancini.
20. News: Mountain Party selects gubernatorial candidate. Jared Hunt. Charleston Daily Mail. May 3, 2011. May 4, 2011. https://archive.today/20120730115434/http://www.dailymail.com/News/201105021338?page=1&build=cache. July 30, 2012. dead. mdy-all.
21. Web site: 2011 Write-in Candidates for Governor. 2011-09-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20120330204952/http://www.sos.wv.gov/news/topics/elections-candidates/Pages/TennantCertifiesListOf.aspx. 2012-03-30. dead.
22. Web site: 2011 Candidates for Governor. 2011-06-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20110721074647/http://www.sos.wv.gov/elections/Pages/2011CandidatesforGovernor.aspx. 2011-07-21. dead.
23. Web site: Gubernatorial Ratings Inside Elections . www.insideelections.com.
24. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20110801190131/http://www.governing.com/blogs/politics/update-2011-2012-gubernatorial-contests.html . An Update on the 2011-2012 Gubernatorial Contests . August 1, 2011 . July 25, 2011 . Governing.
25. Web site: 2011/2012 GOVERNORS RACE RATINGS . The Cook Political Report . September 15, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111007113156/http://cookpolitical.com/charts/governors/raceratings_2011-09-15_14-50-15.php . October 7, 2011.
26. Web site: 2012 Governor . Sabato's Crystal Ball . November 29, 2012 .