West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016

West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016

November 8, 2016

Nominee Bill Cole Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent Governor Earl Ray Tomblin Democratic

The 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election will take place on November 8, 2016, to elect the Governor of West Virginia, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

Incumbent Democratic Governor Earl Ray Tomblin is term-limited and cannot run for re-election to a third term in office.

Background

In November 2010, Democratic Governor Joe Manchin resigned after being elected to the U.S. Senate. Earl Ray Tomblin, the President of the West Virginia Senate, became Acting Governor and won a special election held in October 2011. He was re-elected to a full term in the regularly-scheduled 2012 election. Tomblin is ineligible to run for re-election as the Constitution of West Virginia limits Governors to two consecutive terms, regardless of whether they are full or partial terms. However, Governors are re-eligible after four years out of office.^[1][2]

After publicly speculating he would run for his former office, Manchin was considered a heavy favorite in the 2016 race. However, he announced on April 19, 2015, that he would be remaining in the Senate instead.^[3]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Booth Goodwin, former United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia^[4]
• Jim Justice, businessman^[5]
• Jeff Kessler, Minority Leader of the West Virginia Senate, former President of the West Virginia Senate and candidate for Governor in 2011^[6]

Declined

• Glen Gainer III, West Virginia State Auditor and nominee for West Virginia's 1st congressional district in 2014 (running for re-election)^[7][8]
• Joe Manchin, U.S. Senator and former Governor^{[9][10][11][12]}
• John Perdue, West Virginia State Treasurer and candidate for Governor in 2011^[13][14]
• Natalie Tennant, West Virginia Secretary of State, candidate for Governor in 2011 and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (running for re-election)^[1][15]
• Mike Green, former State Senator^[16]
• Carte Goodwin, former U.S. Senator^[16]
• Walt Helmick, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture^[7]
• Doug Reynolds, State Delegate^[16]
• Doug Skaff, former State Delegate^[16]
• Rick Thompson, West Virginia Secretary of Veterans Assistance, former Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates and candidate for Governor in 2011^[1]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jim Justice	Booth Goodwin	Jeff Kessler	Undecided
MetroNews	April 22–May 2, 2016	315	± 4.0%	32%	27%	23%	18%
Public Policy Polling	April 29–May 1, 2016	637	± 3.9%	37%	23%	19%	21%
West Virginia Veterans	March 2–6, 2016	600	± 3.9%	36%	20%	16%	28%
MetroNews	February 11–16, 2016	208	± 4.9%	32%	25%	23%	21%
Global Strategy Group (D-Jim Justice)	December 1–3, 2015	350	± 5.2%	39%	13%	19%	21%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Bill Cole, President of the West Virginia Senate^[7][17]

Did Not File

• Andrew Utterback, college student and candidate for Mayor of Pineville in 2014^[18]
• Edwin Vanover, former Bramwell Police Chief and Democratic candidate for House of Delegates in 2012^[18]

Declined

• Evan Jenkins, U.S. Representative^[16][19]
• David McKinley, U.S. Representative and candidate for Governor in 1996 (running for re-election)^[20]
• Patrick Morrisey, Attorney General of West Virginia (running for re-election)^[21][22][23]
• Mary Lou Retton, Olympic gymnast^[16]
• Erikka Storch, State Delegate^[16]

Polling

Libertarian Primary

Candidates

Declared

• David Moran, retired engineer and farmer^[24]

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Booth Goodwin (D)	Bill Cole (R)	Other	Undecided
MetroNews	April 22–May 2, 2016	596	± 4.0%	47%	39%	—	14%
Public Policy Polling	April 29–May 1, 2016	1,201	± 2.8%	33%	39%	—	28%
Orion Strategies	February 20–21, 2016	306	± 5.6%	33%	36%	—	31%
MetroNews	February 11–16, 2016	411	± 4.9%	43%	44%	—	14%
Harper Polling	April 9–11, 2015	702	± 3.7%	35%	37%	—	27%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jim Justice (D)	Bill Cole (R)	Other	Undecided
MetroNews	April 22–May 2, 2016	596	± 4.0%	52%	34%	—	14%
Public Policy Polling	April 29–May 1, 2016	1,201	± 2.8%	41%	35%	—	24%
Orion Strategies	February 20–21, 2016	306	± 5.6%	37%	33%	—	30%
MetroNews	February 11–16, 2016	411	± 4.9%	49%	39%	—	12%
Orion Strategies	August 24–25, 2015	406	± 4.9%	34%	31%	—	35%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Jeff Kessler (D)	Bill Cole (R)	Other	Undecided
MetroNews	April 22–May 2, 2016	596	± 4.0%	45%	39%	—	16%
Public Policy Polling	April 29–May 1, 2016	1,201	± 2.8%	30%	40%	—	30%
Orion Strategies	February 20–21, 2016	306	± 5.6%	30%	40%	—	30%
MetroNews	February 11–16, 2016	411	± 4.9%	40%	45%	—	15%
Orion Strategies	August 24–25, 2015	406	± 4.9%	26%	37%	—	37%
Harper Polling	April 9–11, 2015	702	± 3.7%	34%	38%	—	28%

References

1. Miller, Tom. "2016 race for governor could be crowded". The Lincoln Journal. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
2. King, Joselyn (May 18, 2011). "Tomblin, Maloney win nominations". Wetzel Chronicle. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
3. Ramsey, Pam (April 19, 2015). "Manchin says he'll stay in Senate, forgoes governor bid". The Journal. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
4. "Ex-US attorney Goodwin files for W.Va. governor race". The Journal. January 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
5. Eyre, Eric (May 11, 2015). "Greenbrier owner Jim Justice enters governor's race". The Charleston Gazette. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
6. Ebert, Joel (March 19, 2015). "Kessler says he'll run for governor in 2016". Charleston Daily Mail. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
7. "Sunday Sit-Down: West Virginia GOP Chairman Conrad Lucas". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
8. Jenkins, Jeff (June 15, 2015). "Auditor Gainer planning re-election bid in 2016". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
9. "GOP Senate may run purple". Politico. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
10. "Manchin, 50-50 on Possible Return Run for Governor". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. April 7, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
11. Raju, Manu (April 14, 2015). "Joe Manchin signals stronger interest in West Virginia governor run". Politico. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
12. Eric Bradner (April 19, 2015). "Joe Manchin picks Senate over governor's bid". CNN. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
13. Aaron Blake (January 23, 2015). "The 5 best governors races in the country". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
14. Jonathan Mattise (January 23, 2015). "Though @WaPost says otherwise, WV Treasurer John Perdue's office says he's not running for governor". Twitter. Retrieved February 7, 2015.
15. "W.Va. Secretary of State Files Early Re-Election Paperwork". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. March 19, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
16. "West Virginia Undergoing Political, Generational Change". Roll Call. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
17. Johnson, Shauna (June 2, 2015). "Republican Bill Cole launches 2016 gubernatorial campaign". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
18. Deitz, Leah (May 15, 2015). "Jim Justice vying for Governor's Office". Mountain Messenger. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
19. Ebert, Joel (June 17, 2015). "Cole endorsed by Congressman Jenkins". Charleston Daily Mail. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
20. Hicks, Ian (June 1, 2015). "McKinley Won't Run for Governor". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
21. Johnson, Shauna (March 19, 2015). "Morrisey says he is considering a possible run for governor in 2016". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
22. "Morrisey has $850K for possible governor bid". The Journal. April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
23. Jenkins, Jeff (June 16, 2015). "Morrisey opts to seek reelection instead of governor's office". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
24. Staff. "WV Libertarians announce candidates for statewide offices". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved April 14, 2016.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Bill Cole (R) for Governor
• Booth Goodwin (D) for Governor
• Jim Justice (D) for Governor
• Jeff Kessler (D) for Governor