2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election explained

Election Name:	2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election
Country:	West Virginia
Type:	presidential
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2011 West Virginia gubernatorial special election
Previous Year:	2011 (special)
Next Election:	2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election
Next Year:	2016
Image1:	File:Earl Ray Tomblin 2 (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:	Earl Ray Tomblin
Party1:	Democratic Party (United States)
Popular Vote1:	335,468
Percentage1:	50.49%
Nominee2:	Bill Maloney
Party2:	Republican Party (United States)
Popular Vote2:	303,291
Percentage2:	45.65%
Governor
Before Election:	Earl Ray Tomblin
Before Party:	Democratic Party (United States)
After Election:	Earl Ray Tomblin
After Party:	Democratic Party (United States)

The 2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Democratic incumbent Earl Ray Tomblin, who was elected governor in a special election in 2011, was elected to a full four-year term. The election was a rematch of the 2011 special election.

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Arne Moltis, candidate for governor in 2011^[1]
• Earl Ray Tomblin, incumbent governor^[2]

Declined

• Jeff Kessler, state senator, president of the state senate, and candidate for governor in 2011^[3]
• Brooks McCabe, state senator^[3]

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ralph William Clark, philosophy professor at West Virginia University and candidate for governor in 2011
• Bill Maloney, businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011^[4]

Declined

• Clark Barnes, state senator and candidate for governor in 2011^[3] (did not file)
• Mark Sorsaia, Putnam County prosecutor and candidate for governor in 2011^[3] (did not file)
• Mike Stuart, West Virginia Republican Party chairman^[5]

Results

General election

Candidates

• Jesse Johnson (Mountain), former gubernatorial and senate nominee^[6]
• Bill Maloney (R), businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011
• David Moran (Libertarian), farmer and retired engineer^[7]
• Earl Ray Tomblin (D), incumbent governor

Other potential candidates

• Norman Ferguson (NPA)^[3]
• Phil Hudok (Constitution), write-in candidate for governor in 2011^[3]

Debates

• Complete video of debate, October 9, 2012 - C-SPAN

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
align=left	The Cook Political Report^[8]		November 1, 2012
align=left	Sabato's Crystal Ball^[9]		November 5, 2012
align=left	Rothenberg Political Report^[10]		November 2, 2012
align=left	Real Clear Politics^[11]		November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	class=small	Sample size	Margin of error	Earl Ray Tomblin (D)	Bill Maloney (R)	Undecided
R.L. Repass	August 22–25, 2012	401	± 4.9%	align=center	56%	35%	9%
R.L. Repass	April 25–28, 2012	410	± 4.8%	align=center	60%	32%	8%

Results

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Calhoun (Largest city: Grantsville)
• Gilmer (Largest city: Glenville)
• Hardy (Largest city: Moorefield)
• Jefferson (Largest city: Charles Town)
• Ohio (largest borough: Wheeling)
• Pendleton (Largest city: Franklin)
• Pocahontas (Largest city: Marlinton)
• Roane (Largest city: Spencer)
• Wirt (largest municipality: Elizabeth)
• Wood (largest municipality: Parkersburg)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Barbour (Largest city: Philippi)
• Mercer (Largest city: Bluefield)
• Raleigh (Largest city: Beckley)

By congressional district

Tomblin won 2 of 3 congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.^[12]

District	Tomblin	Maloney	Representative
		47.99%	48.21%		David McKinley
		49.4%	46.19%		Shelley Moore Capito
		54.43%	42.25%		Nick Rahall

External links

• Elections Division at the West Virginia secretary of state

Candidate sites (Archived)

• Bill Maloney for Governor
• Earl Ray Tomblin for Governor
• David Moran for Governor

Notes and References

1. Web site: W.Va. candidates file for Congress, state offices. January 28, 2012. January 29, 2012. The Washington Examiner. Associated Press. Lawrence. Messina.
2. Web site: Tomblin files for governor. January 19, 2012. January 27, 2012. State Journal. Ann. Ali. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165406/http://www.statejournal.com/story/16556221/tomblin-files-for-governor. March 3, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
3. Web site: Maloney May Try Again. November 29, 2011. January 3, 2012. The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. Ian. Hicks.
4. Web site: Maloney ready for another shot against Tomblin. https://archive.today/20130120072608/http://www.dailymail.com/News/statenews/201201260067. dead. January 20, 2013. January 26, 2012. January 27, 2012. Charleston Daily Mail. Ry. Rivard. Jared. Hunt.
5. Web site: GOP Chairman: Not running for public office in '12. October 25, 2011. October 25, 2011. Charleston Daily Mail. Ry. Rivard. October 30, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111030021728/http://blogs.dailymail.com/capitolnotebook/2011/10/25/gop-chairman-not-running-for-public-office-in-12/. dead.
6. Web site: Mountain Party nominates Johnson, Baber at Sutton convention. July 24, 2012. August 1, 2012. The Charleston Gazette.
7. Web site: David Moran for Governor. August 6, 2012. Libertarian Party of West Virginia. October 2, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121002033517/http://www.lpwv.info/index.php/extensions/candidates-corner/david-moran. dead.
8. Web site: 2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012 . The Cook Political Report . November 30, 2018.
9. Web site: PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM . Sabato's Crystal Ball . November 30, 2018 . December 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181201094552/http://crystalball.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/projection-obama-will-likely-win-second-term/ . dead .
10. Web site: 2012 Gubernatorial Ratings . Gubernatorial Ratings . The Rothenberg Political Report . November 30, 2018.
11. Web site: 2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races . Real Clear Politics . November 30, 2018.
12. Web site: Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts. Daily Kos. 11 August 2020.