2020 West Virginia elections

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2020 West Virginia elections
Flag of West Virginia.svg
  2018 November 3, 2020 (2020-11-03) 2022  
Registered802,726 [1]
Turnout63.25% (Increase2.svg 15.32%)

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

Contents

The 2020 elections solidified West Virginia's rightward shift as Republican party candidates won all U.S. House seats, statewide executive offices and the U.S. Senate seat up for election (all with more than 56% of the vote) while also expanding their majorities in both state legislative chambers. President Donald Trump won every county in the state and 68.62% of the statewide vote in his re-election bid, for a statewide margin of 38.93%, although losing re-election.

Federal offices

President

Incumbent Republican Donald Trump easily carried West Virginia, capturing 68.62% of the vote. Trump captured every county in the state and it was his second-best showing, behind only Wyoming.

Senate

Incumbent senator Shelley Moore Capito was easily reelected. With a vote share of 70.3%, she was the first Republican senator to win reelection in West Virginia since 1907.

House of Representatives

All 3 Incumbent Republican U.S. Representatives were easily reelected, all increasing their vote share compared to 2018.

Governor

Incumbent Republican governor Jim Justice won reelection to a second term over Democrat Ben Salango with 64.8% of the vote. Justice increased his vote margin substantially compared with his first election in 2016, when he was the democratic candidate, receiving just 49.1% of the overall vote. This was the first time a Republican candidate carried every county in the state during a gubernatorial election.

State legislature

State senate

17 of the 34 seats in the West Virginia State Senate held elections, including 11 Republican-held seats and 6 Democratic-held seats. Four incumbents chose not to seek re-election due to retirement: Democrats Paul Hardesty, Roman Prezioso, and Corey Palumbo and Republican Kenny Mann. Republicans won 3 seats over Democratic candidates, increasing their majority in the chamber from 20 to 23 seats. [2] [3]

House of Delegates

All 100 seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates will have an election. Nineteen incumbents chose not to seek re-election: 11 Democrats and 8 Republicans. Republicans flipped 18 seats, increasing their majority in the chamber from 58 to 76 seats. [4] [5]

Attorney general

2020 West Virginia Attorney General election
Flag of West Virginia.svg
  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  
  Patrick Morrisey by Gage Skidmore.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee Patrick Morrisey Sam Petsonk
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote487,250276,798
Percentage63.77%36.23%

2020 West Virginia Attorney General Election Results.svg
2014 US Senate Election in West Virginia by Congressional District.svg
2020 WV Attorney General election by precinct.svg
Morrisey:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Petsonk:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:      50%

Attorney General before election

Darrell McGraw
Democratic

Elected Attorney General

Patrick Morrisey
Republican

Republican incumbent Patrick Morrisey was re-elected with 51.63% of the vote in 2016 and successfully sought re-election. [6]

Republican primary

Candidates

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Patrick Morrisey (incumbent) 175,837 100.0%
Total votes175,837 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Sam Petsonk 86,849 50.04%
Democratic Isaac Sponaugle 86,70449.96%
Total votes173,553 100.0%

Polling

Poll sourceDate(s)
administered
Sample
size [a]
Margin
of error
Patrick
Morrisey (R)
Sam
Petsonk (D)
Undecided
Triton Polling and Research/WMOV [10] October 19–21, 2020544 (LV)± 4.2%53%41%6%
Triton Polling & Research/WMOV [11] September 29–30, 2020 [b] 525 (RV)± 4.3%53%41%6%

General election

General election results [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Patrick Morrisey (incumbent) 487,250 63.77%
Democratic Sam Petsonk276,79836.23%
Total votes764,048 100.0%

Secretary of state

Results by county
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Warner
50-60%
60-70%
70-80%
80-90%
Tennant
50-60% 2020 West Virginia Secretary of State election.svg
Results by county
  Warner
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  •   70-80%
  •   80-90%
  Tennant
  •   50-60%
2020 West Virginia Secretary of State election [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Mac Warner (incumbent) 447,537 58.26%
Democratic Natalie Tennant 320,65041.74%
Total votes768,187 100.0%

Treasurer

Democratic incumbent John Perdue was re-elected with 50.33% of the vote in 2016, but lost re-election to Republican candidate Riley Moore. [13]

Results by county
Moore
50-60%
60-70%
70-80%
80-90%
Perdue
50-60%
60-70% 2020 West Virginia Treasurer Election Results.svg
Results by county
  Moore
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  •   70-80%
  •   80-90%
  Perdue
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
2020 West Virginia State Treasurer election [14]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Riley Moore 425,745 56.31%
Democratic John Perdue (incumbent)330,31643.69%
Total votes756,061 100.0%
Republican gain from Democratic

Auditor

2020 West Virginia State Auditor election
Flag of West Virginia.svg
  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  
  John McCuskey by Gage Skidmore.jpg 3x4.svg
Nominee JB McCuskey Mary Ann Claytor
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote496,845244,427
Percentage67.03%32.97%

2020 West Virginia Auditor election.svg
2014 US Senate Election in West Virginia by Congressional District.svg
2020 WV Auditor election by precinct.svg
McCuskey:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Claytor:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:      50%

State Auditor before election

JB McCuskey
Republican

Elected State Auditor

JB McCuskey
Republican

Republican incumbent JB McCuskey was elected with 58.48% of the vote in 2016 and successfully sought re-election. [15]

Republican primary

Candidates

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican JB McCuskey (incumbent) 169,577 100.0%
Total votes169,577 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Mary Ann Claytor 156,089 100.0%
Total votes156,089 100.0%

General election

General election results [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican JB McCuskey (incumbent) 496,845 67.03%
Democratic Mary Ann Claytor244,42732.97%
Total votes741,272 100.0%

Commissioner of Agriculture

2020 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election
Flag of West Virginia.svg
  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  
 
Nominee Kent Leonhardt Bob Beach
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote480,386258,912
Percentage64.98%35.02%

2020 West Virginia Agricultural Commissioner election.svg
2014 US Senate Election in West Virginia by Congressional District.svg
2020 WV Agricultural Commissioner election by precinct.svg
Leonhardt:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Beach:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90%
Tie:      50%

Secretary of State before election

Kent Leonhardt
Republican

Elected Secretary of State

Kent Leonhardt
Republican

Republican incumbent Kent Leonhardt was elected with 48.41% of the vote in 2016 and successfully sought re-election. [17]

Republican primary

Candidates

Republican primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Kent Leonhardt (incumbent) 113,586 63.5%
Republican Roy Ramey65,33636.5%
Total votes178,922 100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Withdrawn
  • Patricia Bunner, attorney [23]
Democratic primary results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Bob Beach 81,074 48.0%
Democratic William Keplinger44,08426.1%
Democratic Dave Miller43,91626.0%
Total votes169,074 100.0%

General election

General election results [12]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Kent Leonhardt (incumbent) 480,386 64.98%
Democratic Bob Beach 258,91235.02%
Total votes739,298 100.0%

Supreme Court of Appeals

Division 1

The incumbent was Tim Armstead, who was appointed to the court to replace Justice Menis Ketchum, who resigned from the court shortly before being convicted on a felony fraud charge. Armstead then won a 2018 special election to serve the remainder of Ketchum's term with 26.1% of the vote. He successfully won re-election to a full term. [24] [25]

Candidates

Results by county
Armstead
30-40%
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
Neely
30-40%
40-50%
50-60%
Hummel
40-50%
50-60%
70-80%
80-90% 2020 West Virginia Supreme Court Division 1 election.svg
Results by county
  Armstead
  •   30-40%
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  Neely
  •   30-40%
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  Hummel
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   70-80%
  •   80-90%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan Tim Armstead (incumbent) 151,755 41.0%
Nonpartisan Richard Neely 132,06935.7%
Nonpartisan David Hummel Jr.86,11223.3%
Total votes369,936 100.0%

Division 2

The incumbent Margaret Workman, did not seek re-election after controversies and the threat of possible impeachment. Bill Wooton, a former state senator, was elected with 31.0% of the vote. [24] [28]

Candidates

Results by county
Wooton
20-30%
30-40%
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
70-80%
Tabit
20-30%
30-40%
40-50%
60-70%
Raynes
30-40%
50-60%
Douglas
30-40%
40-50% 2020 West Virginia Supreme Court Division 2 election.svg
Results by county
  Wooton
  •   20-30%
  •   30-40%
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  •   70-80%
  Tabit
  •   20-30%
  •   30-40%
  •   40-50%
  •   60-70%
  Raynes
  •   30-40%
  •   50-60%
  Douglas
  •   30-40%
  •   40-50%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan William R. Wooton 115,668 31.0%
Nonpartisan Joanna Tabit108,95229.2%
Nonpartisan Kris Raynes74,33419.9%
Nonpartisan Jim Douglas73,84319.8%
Total votes372,797 100.0%

Division 3

The incumbent was John A. Hutchison, who was appointed to the court to replace justice Allen Loughry, who resigned from the court in the midst of his impeachment trial. Hutchison successfully sought re-election to serve the remainder of Loughry's term. [24] [33] [34]

Candidates

Results by county
Hutchison
30-40%
40-50%
60-70%
70-80%
80-90%
Dyer
30-40%
40-50%
50-60%
60-70%
80-90%
Schwartz
30-40%
40-50% 2020 West Virginia Supreme Court Division 3 election.svg
Results by county
  Hutchison
  •   30-40%
  •   40-50%
  •   60-70%
  •   70-80%
  •   80-90%
  Dyer
  •   30-40%
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  •   80-90%
  Schwartz
  •   30-40%
  •   40-50%
General election results
PartyCandidateVotes%
Nonpartisan John A. Hutchison (incumbent) 137,681 39.2%
Nonpartisan Lora Dyer124,93931.0%
Nonpartisan William Schwartz88,36925.6%
Total votes350,989 100.0%

Notes

  1. Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. Additional data sourced from FiveThirtyEight

References

  1. "November 3, 2020 General Election Official Results Turnout". results.enr.clarityelections.com. November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  2. "West Virginia State Senate elections, 2020". Ballotpedia.
  3. "West Virginia State Senate". Ballotpedia.
  4. "West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2020". Ballotpedia.
  5. "West Virginia House of Delegates". Ballotpedia.
  6. "West Virginia Attorney General election, 2020". Ballotpedia.
  7. "Patrick Morrisey". Ballotpedia.
  8. "Sam Petsonk for Attorney General". Sam Petsonk for Attorney General. Archived from the original on May 23, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  9. "Isaac Sponaugle". Ballotpedia.
  10. Triton Polling and Research/WMOV
  11. Triton Polling & Research/WMOV
  12. 1 2 3 4 "November 3, 2020 General Election - Official Results". West Virginia State - Clarity Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  13. "West Virginia Treasurer election, 2020". Ballotpedia.
  14. "November 3, 2020 General Election - Official Results". West Virginia State - Clarity Elections. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  15. "West Virginia Auditor election, 2020". Ballotpedia.
  16. "Mary Ann Claytor". Ballotpedia.
  17. "West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner election, 2020". Ballotpedia.
  18. "Roy Ramey for WV". www.facebook.com.
  19. "Roy L. Ramey". Ballotpedia.
  20. "Robert Beach (West Virginia)". Ballotpedia.
  21. "W.Va. Commissioner of Agriculture candidate: William "JR" Keplinger (D)". The Herald-Dispatch. March 26, 2020.
  22. "W.Va. Commissioner of Agriculture candidate: Dave Miller (D)". The Herald-Dispatch. March 16, 2020.
  23. "Patricia Bunner - Lawyer in Fairview, WV - Avvo" . Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 "West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals elections, 2020". Ballotpedia.
  25. 1 2 "Tim Armstead". Ballotpedia.
  26. "David W. Hummel, Jr".
  27. "Richard Neely". Ballotpedia.
  28. "Margaret Workman". Ballotpedia.
  29. "Jim Douglas". Ballotpedia.
  30. "Kris Raynes". Ballotpedia.
  31. "Joanna I. Tabit". Ballotpedia.
  32. "William Wooton". Ballotpedia.
  33. 1 2 https://ballotpedia.org/John_A._Hutchinson [ dead link ]
  34. "West Virginia judicial elections, 2012". Ballotpedia.
  35. "Lora Dyer". Ballotpedia.
  36. Barger, K. "WV election | Schwartzforwv.com | United States". Wks2020.

Official campaign websites for Attorney General

Official campaign websites for Secretary of State

Official campaign websites for Treasurer

Official campaign websites for Auditor

Official campaign websites for Commissioner of Agriculture