2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2012 United States gubernatorial elections.

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.

2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election

← 2011 (special) November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2016 →

Nominee Earl Ray Tomblin Bill Maloney Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 335,468 303,291 Percentage 50.49% 45.65%

County results Congressional district results Tomblin:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Maloney:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

Governor before election Earl Ray Tomblin Democratic Elected Governor Earl Ray Tomblin Democratic

As of 2024, this was the last gubernatorial election in which a Democratic governor was re-elected in the state.

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

Democratic primary results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Earl Ray Tomblin (incumbent)	170,481	84.4%
	Democratic	Arne Moltis	31,587	15.6%
Total votes			202,068	100.0%

Republican primary

Candidates

• Ralph William Clark, philosophy professor at West Virginia University and candidate for governor in 2011^[5]
• Bill Maloney, businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011^[5]

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^[6]

Results

Republican primary results^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bill Maloney	86,925	83.5%
	Republican	Ralph William Clark	17,165	16.5%
Total votes			104,090	100.0%

General election

Candidates

• Jesse Johnson (Mountain), former gubernatorial and senate nominee^[7]
• Bill Maloney (R), businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011
• David Moran (Libertarian), farmer and retired engineer^[8]
• 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
The Cook Political Report[9]	Lean D	November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10]	Lean D	November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[11]	Lean D	November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[12]	Likely D	November 5, 2012

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Earl Ray Tomblin (D)	Bill Maloney (R)	Undecided
R.L. Repass[13]	August 22–25, 2012	401	± 4.9%	56%	35%	9%
R.L. Repass[14]	April 25–28, 2012	410	± 4.8%	60%	32%	8%

Results

West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2012^[15]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Earl Ray Tomblin (incumbent)	335,468	50.49%	+0.94%
	Republican	Bill Maloney	303,291	45.65%	−1.40%
	Mountain	Jesse Johnson	16,787	2.53%	+0.51%
	Libertarian	David Moran	8,909	1.34%	N/A
Total votes			664,455	100.00%	N/A
	Democratic hold

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.^[16]

District	Tomblin	Maloney	Representative
1st	47.99%	48.21%	David McKinley
2nd	49.4%	46.19%	Shelley Moore Capito
3rd	54.43%	42.25%	Nick Rahall

References

1. Messina, Lawrence (January 28, 2012). "W.Va. candidates file for Congress, state offices". The Washington Examiner. Associated Press. Retrieved January 29, 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. Ali, Ann (January 19, 2012). "Tomblin files for governor". State Journal. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
3. Hicks, Ian (November 29, 2011). "Maloney May Try Again". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. Retrieved January 3, 2012.^{[permanent dead link]}
4. "Statewide Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Archived from the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
5. Rivard, Ry; Hunt, Jared (January 26, 2012). "Maloney ready for another shot against Tomblin". Charleston Daily Mail. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
6. Rivard, Ry (October 25, 2011). "GOP Chairman: Not running for public office in '12". Charleston Daily Mail. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
7. "Mountain Party nominates Johnson, Baber at Sutton convention". The Charleston Gazette. July 24, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
8. "David Moran for Governor". Libertarian Party of West Virginia. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
9. "2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
10. "PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
11. "2012 Gubernatorial Ratings". Gubernatorial Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
12. "2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
13. R.L. Repass
14. R.L. Repass
15. "WV SOS - Elections - Election Results - Online Data Services". Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
16. "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts". Daily Kos. Retrieved August 11, 2020.

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