2016 West Virginia elections

Last updated

2016 West Virginia elections
Flag of West Virginia.svg
  2014 November 6, 2016 (2016-11-06) 2018  

West Virginia held elections on November 8, 2016. Elections for the United States House, as well as for several statewide offices including the governorship were held. These elections were held concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other elections nationwide. Primary elections were held on May 10, 2016.

Contents

Federal offices

President

Republican Donald Trump easily carried West Virginia, capturing 68.5% of the vote and sweeping every county in the state, his strongest vote share in the nation. [1]

House of Representatives

All 3 Incumbent Republican U.S. Representatives were easily reelected, all increasing their vote share compared to 2014. [2]

Governor

Incumbent Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin was term-limited from running again in 2016. State Senate President Bill Cole ran unopposed in the Republican primary contest, while businessman Jim Justice defeated multiple opponents in the Democratic primary contest. The state's Republican trend, coupled with past scandals surrounding Justice's unpaid taxes and business controversies, made the race extremely competitive. Justice went on to narrowly win the election, capturing 49.1% of the vote. [3] Justice would go on to switch party affiliation just months after being in office, announcing he would become a Republican at an August 4, 2017 rally with President Trump. [4]

State Legislature

State senate

18 of the 34 State Senate seats were up for election in 2016, with 3 Democrats and 1 Republican incumbents not running for reelection. Republicans won a net gain of 4 seats, increasing their majority in the state senate from 18 to 22 seats. [5]

House of Delegates

All 100 seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates were up for election, with 13 Republican and 8 Democratic incumbents not running for reelection. The Republican majority sustained a net loss of 1 seat, decreasing the majority from 64 seats to 63. [6] This soon changed when Democrat Rupert Phillips Jr. switched party affiliation to Independent in January 2017, and then to Republican in May 2017 reestablishing the 64–36 majority from 2014. [7]

Attorney General

.mw-parser-output .legend{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .legend-color{display:inline-block;min-width:1.25em;height:1.25em;line-height:1.25;margin:1px 0;text-align:center;border:1px solid black;background-color:transparent;color:black}.mw-parser-output .legend-text{}
Morrisey
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
70-80%
Reynolds
40-50%
50-60% 2016 West Virginia Attorney General election.svg
  Morrisey
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  •   70-80%
  Reynolds
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%

Republican incumbent Patrick Morrisey successfully sought re-election, defeating Delegate Doug Reynolds, and capturing 51.63% of the vote. [8]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Patrick Morrisey (incumbent) 157,369 100.00
Total votes157,369 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Doug Reynolds 187,786 100.00
Total votes187,786 100.00

General election

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Patrick Morrisey (incumbent) 358,424 51.63
Democratic Doug Reynolds 291,23241.95
Libertarian Karl Kolenich24,0233.46
Mountain Michael Sharley20,4752.95
Total votes694,154 100.00

Secretary of State

Warner
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
70-80%
Tennant
40-50%
50-60% 2016 West Virginia Secretary of State election.svg
  Warner
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  •   70-80%
  Tennant
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%

Republican challenger Mac Warner defeated incumbent Democrat Natalie Tennant who had held the position since 2008. He captured 48.52% of the vote. [9]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mac Warner 105,800 63.33
Republican Barry Holstein61,27136.67
Total votes167,071 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Natalie Tennant (incumbent) 192,176 77.18
Democratic Patsy Trecost56,83222.82
Total votes249,008 100.00

General election

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mac Warner 335,526 48.52
Democratic Natalie Tennant (incumbent)323,75046.82
Libertarian John S. Buckley32,1794.65
Total votes691,455 100.00

Treasurer

Perdue
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
Urling
40-50%
50-60%
60-70% 2016 West Virginia Treasurer election.svg
  Perdue
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  Urling
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%

Democratic incumbent John Perdue, who had held the West Virginia State Treasurer's position since 1996, was re-elected with 50.33% of the vote. He defeated Republican challenger and businesswoman Ann Urling. Perdue became the only Democrat to hold statewide executive office in West Virginia after Governor Justice's party switch in 2017. [10]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Ann Urling 88,703 54.94
Republican Larry V. Faircloth 72,74145.06
Total votes161,444 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Perdue (incumbent) 208,203 100.00
Total votes208,203 100.00

General election

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic John Perdue (incumbent) 338,018 50.33
Republican Ann Urling293,67143.73
Libertarian Michael A. Young39,8655.94
Total votes671,554 100.00

Auditor

McCuskey
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
70-80% 2016 West Virginia Auditor election.svg
  McCuskey
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  •   70-80%

Republican JB McCuskey was elected with 58.48% of the vote over Democrat Mary Ann Claytor. This marks the first time since 1928 that a Republican had won the office. The seat was open after the resignation of Democrat Glen Glainer III, who had held the office since 1992. In May 2016, Lisa Hopkins was appointed as interim Auditor until the election. [11]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican JB McCuskey 149,793 100.00
Total votes149,793 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary Ann Claytor 93,790 43.95
Democratic Jason Pizatella73,37134.38
Democratic Robin Righter46,25721.67
Total votes213,418 100.00

General election

General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican JB McCuskey 385,831 58.48
Democratic Mary Ann Claytor228,00134.56
Libertarian Brenton Ricketts45,9086.96
Total votes659,740 100.00

Commissioner of Agriculture

Leonhardt
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
Helmick
40-50%
50-60%
60-70% 2016 West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner Election.png
  Leonhardt
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  Helmick
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%

Elected in 2012, incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Walt Helmick was defeated by Republican challenger Kent Leonhardt. [12]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Kent Leonhardt 147,782 100.00
Total votes147,782 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Walt Helmick (incumbent) 194,220 100.00
Total votes194,220 100.00
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Kent Leonhardt 321,560 48.41
Democratic Walt Helmick (incumbent)274,19141.28
Libertarian Buddy A. Guthrie68,50210.31
Total votes664,253 100.00

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 United States elections</span>

The 2007 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 6. During this off-year election, the only seats up for election in the United States Congress were special elections held throughout the year. None of these congressional seats changed party hands. There were also several gubernatorial races and state legislative elections, and numerous citizen initiatives, mayoral races in several major cities, and several types of local offices on the ballot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Republican Party</span> West Virginia affiliate of the Republican Party

The West Virginia Republican Party is the affiliate of the United States Republican Party in West Virginia. Matthew Herridge is the party chair. It is currently the dominant party in the state, and is one of the strongest affiliates of the national Republican Party. It controls both of West Virginia's U.S. House seats, both of the U.S. Senate seats, the governorship, and has supermajorities in both houses of the state legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 West Virginia elections</span>

West Virginia's 2012 general elections were held on November 6, 2012. Primary elections were held on May 8, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2000 United States elections</span>

The 2000 United States elections were held on November 7, 2000. Republican governor George W. Bush of Texas defeated Democratic Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee in the presidential election. Republicans retained control of both houses of Congress, giving the party unified control of Congress and the presidency for the first time since the 1954 elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1999 Virginia state elections</span>

Virginia's 1999 state elections were held on November 2, 1999. Voters elected all 100 members of the Virginia House of Delegates to two-year terms ending in 2002, and all 40 members of the Virginia Senate to four-year terms ending in 2004. There were also elections for local offices in most counties. The elections resulted in the loss of Democratic control of the House of Delegates for the first time in 116 years, and continued the two-year control of the Senate by Republicans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 8, 2016, in 12 states and two territories. The last regular gubernatorial elections for nine of the 12 states took place in 2012. The last gubernatorial elections for New Hampshire, Oregon, and Vermont took place in 2014, as Oregon held a special election due to the resignation of Governor John Kitzhaber, while the governors of New Hampshire and Vermont both serve two-year terms. The 2016 gubernatorial elections took place concurrently with several other federal, state, and local elections, including the presidential election, Senate, and House elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 United States elections</span>

The 2016 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016. Republican nominee Donald Trump defeated Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the presidential election, while Republicans retained control of Congress. This marked the first time Republicans won or held unified control of the presidency and Congress since 2004, and would not do so again until 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mitch Carmichael</span> American politician (born 1960)

Mitchell Carmichael is an American politician. He is a former Republican member of the West Virginia Senate representing District 4 from 2012 until his defeat in 2020. Prior to his service in the Senate, Carmichael served in the West Virginia House of Delegates representing District 12 from 2000 through 2012. Carmichael was also a candidate for Governor of West Virginia in the 2011 West Virginia gubernatorial special election. As President of the state Senate from January 2017 to January 2021, he held the title Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia. After his defeat in 2020, Governor Jim Justice appointed Carmichael as West Virginia's economic development director.

Craig Philip Blair is an American politician and a Republican member of the West Virginia Senate representing District 15 since January 12, 2013. Blair served non-consecutively in the West Virginia Legislature from January 2003 until January 2011 in the West Virginia House of Delegates in the District 52 seat. Blair is also the father of former WV Delegate Saira Blair.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Hall (West Virginia politician)</span> American politician (born 1948)

William Michael Hall is an American politician and chief of staff to the governor of West Virginia Jim Justice. He previously was a Republican member of the West Virginia Senate representing District 4 between 2006 and 2017. Hall served six terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates, representing the 14th district. In 2012, Hall was nominated by the Republican Party as its nominee for the office of West Virginia State Treasurer. He was defeated in the general election by incumbent State Treasurer John Perdue.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 United States elections</span>

The 2017 United States elections were held, in large part, on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. This off-year election featured gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as state legislative elections in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature and in the Virginia House of Delegates. Numerous citizen initiatives, mayoral races, and a variety of other local elections also occurred. Special elections were also held for one seat of the U.S. Senate, representing Alabama, and six seats of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Democrats picked up the governorship in New Jersey and the Alabama Senate seat that was up for a special election. The governorship in Virginia and the six House seats that were up for special elections did not change party hands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States Senate elections</span>

The 2020 United States Senate elections were held on November 3, 2020, with the 33 class 2 seats of the Senate contested in regular elections. Of these, 21 were held by Republicans, and 12 by Democrats. The winners were elected to 6-year terms from January 3, 2021, to January 3, 2027. Two special elections for seats held by Republicans were also held in conjunction with the general elections: one in Arizona, to fill the vacancy created by John McCain's death in 2018; and one in Georgia, following Johnny Isakson's resignation in 2019. These elections ran concurrently with the 2020 United States presidential election in which incumbent president Donald Trump lost to Democratic nominee Joe Biden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States elections</span> American election

The 2020 United States elections were held on Tuesday, November 3, 2020. The Democratic Party's nominee, former vice president Joe Biden, defeated incumbent Republican president Donald Trump in the presidential election. Despite losing seats in the House of Representatives, Democrats retained control of the House and very narrowly gained control of the Senate. As a result, the Democrats obtained a government trifecta, the first time since the elections in 2008 that the party gained unified control of Congress and the presidency. With Trump losing his bid for re-election, he became the first president to have seen his party lose the presidency and control of both the House and the Senate since Herbert Hoover in 1932. This was the first time since 1980 that either chamber of Congress flipped partisan control in a presidential year, and the first time Democrats did so since 1948.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States Senate election in West Virginia</span>

The 2018 United States Senate election in West Virginia took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of West Virginia, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. This was one of ten Democratic-held Senate seats up for election in a state won by Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 United States gubernatorial elections</span>

United States gubernatorial elections were held on November 3, 2020, in 11 states and two territories. The previous gubernatorial elections for this group of states took place in 2016, except in New Hampshire and Vermont where governors only serve two-year terms. These two states elected their current governors in 2018. Nine state governors ran for reelection and all nine won, while Democrat Steve Bullock of Montana could not run again due to term limits and Republican Gary Herbert of Utah decided to retire at the end of his term.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 West Virginia elections</span>

West Virginia held elections on November 3, 2020. The Democratic and Republican party primary elections were held on June 9, 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 West Virginia elections</span>

West Virginia held elections on November 6, 2018. Elections for the United States House and Senate were held as well as two high-profile ballot measures. These elections were held concurrently with other elections nationwide. Primary elections were held on May 8, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 West Virginia House of Delegates election</span>

The 2022 West Virginia House of Delegates election was held on November 8, 2022, electing all 100 members of the chamber. This coincided with the election of 17 of West Virginia's 34 state senators, and the election of West Virginia's two U.S. representatives. Primary elections were held on May 10, 2022. Due to redistricting, this was the first House of Delegates election in which all members were elected from single member districts, with West Virginia following a trend of states phasing out multi-member districts in recent decades.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 West Virginia Senate election</span>

The 2022 West Virginia Senate elections were held on November 8, 2022, and elected 17 of the chamber's 34 members. This coincided with elections in the House of Delegates, and the election of West Virginia's two representatives. Following the 2020 census, this was the first West Virginia Senate election held after redistricting. Primary elections were held on May 10, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 West Virginia elections</span>

West Virginia's 2008 general elections were held on 4 November 2008 with Primary elections being held on 13 May 2008. It saw a landslide Democratic victory across nearly every single office in the state.

References

  1. "Presidential election in West Virginia, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  2. "United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  3. "West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  4. Kabler, Phil (August 3, 2017). "WV Gov. Justice switching political parties, returning to GOP". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  5. "West Virginia State Senate elections, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  6. "West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  7. Johnson, Shauna (January 26, 2017). "Logan County delegate leaves Democratic Party". WV MetroNews. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  8. "West Virginia Attorney General election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  9. "West Virginia Secretary of State election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  10. "West Virginia Treasurer election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  11. "West Virginia Auditor election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  12. "West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2023.