1988 West Virginia State Auditor election

1988 West Virginia State Auditor election

←  1984 November 8, 1988 1992  →

Nominee Glen Gainer Jr. Nelson B. Robinson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 376,345 199,312 Percentage 65.38% 34.62%

State Auditor before election Glen Gainer Jr. Democratic Elected State Auditor Glen Gainer Jr. Democratic

The 1988 West Virginia State Auditor election took place on November 8, 1988, to elect the West Virginia State Auditor.

Incumbent Democratic State Auditor Glen Gainer Jr. won re-election to a fourth term, defeating Republican nominee and Worker's Compensation Commissioner Nelson B. Robinson Jr., 65.38% to 34.62%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Glen Gainer Jr., incumbent State Auditor.

Eliminated in primary

• Phillip Lee "Denzil" Gainer, Mayor of Lewisburg and son of former State Auditor Denzil Gainer. ^{[1] [2] [a]}

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Glen Gainer	Philip Gainer	Undecided
West Virginia Poll [4]	April 13 - 18, 1988	500 (V)	± 3.8%	57%	9%	34%

Results

May 10, 1988 Democratic primary ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Glen Gainer Jr. (incumbent)	194,987	67.79%
	Democratic	Denzil Gainer [b]	92,644	32.21%
Total votes			287,631	100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Nelson B. Robinson Jr., Worker's Compensation Commissioner.

Results

May 10, 1988 Republican primary ^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nelson B. Robinson	103,747	100.00%
Total votes			103,747	100.00%

General election

Results

1988 West Virginia State Auditor election ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Glen Gainer Jr. (incumbent)	376,345	65.38%
	Republican	Nelson B. Robinson	199,312	34.62%
Total votes			575,657	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

1. "Brown, Gainer win easily; Burke emerges in tight race". Williamson Daily News . May 11, 1988.
2. "Gainer vs. Gainer for auditor". Williamson Daily News . February 9, 1988.
3. "Hatfield is second in race". Williamson Daily News . May 12, 1976.
4. "Poll: Brown, Gainer well ahead in races". Williamson Daily News . April 28, 1988.
5. "West Virginia Blue Book - 1989 - Page 705" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature.
6. "West Virginia Blue Book - 1989 - Page 730" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature.
7. "West Virginia Blue Book - 1989 - Page 751" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature.

Notes

1. Different sources have had varying statements regarding whether Philip Gainer's father, Denzil Gainer, was related to the Glen Gainer family. ^[3]
2. Although it wasn't technically his real name, Gainer was given permission by the Secretary of State's office to use his deceased father's name. Gainer himself stated, "I thought it would clear up who I am."