1992 West Virginia gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1992 United States gubernatorial elections.

The 1992 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1992. Incumbent Democratic governor Gaston Caperton won re-election by defeating former Republican U.S. representative Cleve Benedict and Democratic State Senator Charlotte Pritt, who ran as an independent write-in candidate after losing to Caperton in the Democratic primary election. Benedict had defeated Vernon Criss for his party's nomination; this was the only election between 1964 and 2000 that the Republicans had nominated someone other than Arch A. Moore or Cecil H. Underwood. Until 2020 this is the last time West Virginia has voted for the same party for governor and for president, as both elections are held concurrently in the state. This is the most recent time that Democrats won both races concurrently.

1992 West Virginia gubernatorial election

← 1988 November 7, 1992 1996 →

Nominee Gaston Caperton Cleve Benedict Charlotte Pritt (write-in) Party Democratic Republican Independent Popular vote 368,302 240,390 48,873 Percentage 56.0% 36.6% 7.4%

County results Caperton:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Benedict:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Gaston Caperton Democratic Elected Governor Gaston Caperton Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Gaston Caperton, incumbent
• Charlotte Pritt, state senator
• Mario Palumbo, incumbent attorney general
• Larry Butcher
• Rodger Belknap

West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1992^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gaston Caperton (incumbent)	142,261	42.68%
	Democratic	Charlotte Pritt	115,498	34.65%
	Democratic	Mario Palumbo	66,984	20.10%
	Democratic	Larry Butcher	4,994	1.50%
	Democratic	Rodger Belknap	3,590	1.08%
Total votes			333,327	100.00%

Results

West Virginia gubernatorial election, 1992^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gaston Caperton (incumbent)	368,302	56.01%
	Republican	Cleve Benedict	240,390	36.56%
	Write-In	Charlotte Pritt (write-in)	48,873	7.43%
Total votes			657,565	100.00%
	Democratic hold

See also

Source: