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2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2016 United States gubernatorial elections.

2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election
← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →
 
Nominee Jim Justice Bill Cole Charlotte Pritt
Party Democratic Republican Mountain
Popular vote 350,408 301,987 42,068
Percentage 49.09% 42.30% 5.89%
Justice:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Cole:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Tie:      40–50%
Governor before election

Earl Ray Tomblin
Democratic

Elected Governor

Jim Justice
Democratic

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The 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election took 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. The primaries were held on May 10.

Incumbent Democratic governor Earl Ray Tomblin was barred from running for a second full term. He had ascended to the governorship upon Joe Manchin's resignation in 2010, won a 2011 special election to complete the term, and won a full term in 2012. Under the West Virginia Constitution, a partial term counts toward the limit of two consecutive terms.

Democratic nominee Jim Justice, a coal and agriculture businessman, won the open seat with a plurality of the vote, defeating Republican state senator Bill Cole and former state senator Charlotte Pritt, who ran as a member of the Mountain Party. As of 2024, this is the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of West Virginia. Having switched parties in August 2017, Justice was re-elected as a Republican in 2020; his party switch gave Republicans a trifecta in the state for the first time since 1931.[1]

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 (with the honorary title of lieutenant governor), became acting governor, won an October 2011 special election to complete the term, and won a full term in the regularly scheduled 2012 election. Tomblin was ineligible to run for re-election in 2016 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.[2][3]

After publicly speculating he would run for his former office, Manchin was considered a heavy favorite in the 2016 race, but he announced on April 19, 2015, that he would remain in the Senate instead.[4]

Democratic primary

2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election Democratic Primary
10 May 2016
Turnout258,350 votes
 
Candidate Jim Justice Booth Goodwin Jeff Kessler
Popular vote 132,704 65,416 60,230
Percentage 51.39% 25.32% 23.31%
Results by county. Blue indicates a win by Justice, green a win by Goodwin, and yellow a win by Kessler.

Candidates

Declared

Declined

Polling

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

Results

Democratic primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Justice 132,704 51.39%
Democratic Booth Goodwin 65,416 25.32%
Democratic Jeff Kessler 60,230 23.31%
Total votes 258,350 100.00%

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

Did not file

  • Andrew Utterback, college student and candidate for Mayor of Pineville in 2014[25]
  • Edwin Vanover, former Bramwell Police Chief and Democratic candidate for House of Delegates in 2012[25]

Declined

Endorsements

Bill Cole

Individuals

Organizations

Newspapers

Polling

Hypothetical polling
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Bill
Cole 		David
McKinley 		Patrick
Morrisey 		Undecided
Harper Polling[44] April 9–11, 2015 242 ± 6.3% 15% 31% 25% 29%

Results

Republican primary results[23]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Bill Cole 161,127 100.00%
Total votes 161,127 100.00%

Mountain Party

Candidates

Declared

  • Charlotte Pritt, former Democratic state delegate, former Democratic state senator, write-in candidate for governor in 1992 and Democratic nominee for governor in 1996[45]

Endorsements

Charlotte Pritt

Individuals

Organizations

Libertarian Party

Candidates

Declared

  • David Moran, retired engineer and farmer[49]

General election

Debates

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[50] Tossup August 12, 2016
Daily Kos[51] Tossup November 8, 2016
Rothenberg Political Report[52] Tilt D November 3, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball[53] Lean D November 7, 2016
Real Clear Politics[54] Lean R (flip) November 1, 2016
Governing[55] Tossup October 27, 2016

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Jim
Justice (D) 		Bill
Cole (R) 		Charlotte
Pritt (M) 		David
Moran (L) 		Phil
Hudok (C) 		Undecided
SurveyMonkey[56] November 1–7, 2016 472 ± 4.6% 36% 45% 13% — — 6%
SurveyMonkey[57] October 31–November 6, 2016 443 ± 4.6% 37% 43% 13% — — 7%
SurveyMonkey[58] October 28–November 3, 2016 386 ± 4.6% 40% 42% 12% — — 6%
SurveyMonkey[59] October 27–November 2, 2016 330 ± 4.6% 39% 44% 10% — — 7%
SurveyMonkey[60] October 26–November 1, 2016 318 ± 4.6% 42% 41% 12% — — 5%
SurveyMonkey[61] October 25–31, 2016 321 ± 4.6% 42% 43% 13% — — 2%
MetroNews[62] October 12–17, 2016 408 ± 4.9% 44% 33% 8% 5% — 9%
Global Strategy Group[63] October 11–13, 2016 N/A ± 4.0% 44% 34% 8% 2% — 12%
NMB Research[64] October 8–10, 2016 N/A ± 4.4% 39% 39% 5% 2% 1% 12%
Garin-Hart-Yang[65] September 13–17, 2016 500 ± 5.0% 46% 33% 7% 4% — 10%
Just Win Strategies[66]→ September 8–10, 2016 600 ± 4.0% 44% 42% 3% 2% 2% 7%
R.L. Repass & Partners/MetroNews[67] August 9–28, 2016 435 ± 4.7% 46% 32% 8% 5% — 9%
Global Strategy Group[68] August 1–3, 2016 419 ± 4.8% 47% 37% — — — 15%
Public Policy Polling[19] April 29–May 1, 2016 1,201 ± 2.8% 41% 35% — — — 24%
MetroNews[18] April 22–May 2, 2016 596 ± 4.0% 52% 34% — — — 14%
Orion Strategies[69] February 20–21, 2016 306 ± 5.6% 37% 33% — — — 30%
MetroNews[21] February 11–16, 2016 411 ± 4.9% 49% 39% — — — 12%
Orion Strategies[70] August 24–25, 2015 406 ± 4.9% 34% 31% — — — 35%

→ Indicates an internal poll conducted by the West Virginia Republican Party for Bill Cole.

Hypothetical polling

with Booth Goodwin

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Booth
Goodwin (D) 		David
McKinley (R) 		Undecided
Harper Polling[71] April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 35% 40% 25%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Booth
Goodwin (D) 		Patrick
Morrisey (R) 		Undecided
Harper Polling[71] April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 36% 36% 28%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Booth
Goodwin (D) 		Bill
Cole (R) 		Other Undecided
MetroNews[18] April 22–May 2, 2016 596 ± 4.0% 47% 39% — 14%
Public Policy Polling[19] April 29–May 1, 2016 1,201 ± 2.8% 33% 39% — 28%
Orion Strategies[69] February 20–21, 2016 306 ± 5.6% 33% 36% — 31%
MetroNews[21] February 11–16, 2016 411 ± 4.9% 43% 44% — 14%
Harper Polling[72] April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 35% 37% — 27%

with Jeff Kessler

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Jeff
Kessler (D) 		David
McKinley (R) 		Undecided
Harper Polling[71] April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 32% 42% 26%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Jeff
Kessler (D) 		Patrick
Morrisey (R) 		Undecided
Harper Polling[71] April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 35% 38% 27%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Jeff
Kessler (D) 		Bill
Cole (R) 		Other Undecided
MetroNews[18] April 22–May 2, 2016 596 ± 4.0% 45% 39% — 16%
Public Policy Polling[19] April 29–May 1, 2016 1,201 ± 2.8% 30% 40% — 30%
Orion Strategies[69] February 20–21, 2016 306 ± 5.6% 30% 40% — 30%
MetroNews[21] February 11–16, 2016 411 ± 4.9% 40% 45% — 15%
Orion Strategies[70] August 24–25, 2015 406 ± 4.9% 26% 37% — 37%
Harper Polling[72] April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 34% 38% — 28%

with Joe Manchin

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Joe
Manchin (D) 		Bill
Cole (R) 		Undecided
Harper Polling[71] April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 54% 32% 14%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Joe
Manchin (D) 		David
McKinley (R) 		Undecided
Harper Polling[71] April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 52% 35% 12%
Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size 		Margin of
error 		Joe
Manchin (D) 		Patrick
Morrisey (R) 		Undecided
Harper Polling[71] April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 58% 29% 13%
Global Strategy Group*[73] March 15–18, 2015 600 ± 4.0% 60% 30% 10%
  • * Internal poll for Joe Manchin

Results

West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016[74]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jim Justice 350,408 49.09% −1.40%
Republican Bill Cole 301,987 42.30% −3.35%
Mountain Charlotte Pritt 42,068 5.89% +3.36%
Libertarian David Moran 15,354 2.15% +0.81%
Constitution Phil Hudok 4,041 0.57% N/A
Total votes 713,858 100.00% N/A
Democratic hold

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

By congressional district

Justice won 2 of 3 congressional districts, both of which elected Republicans.[75]

District Justice Cole Pritt Representative
1st 45.2% 45.4% 6% David McKinley
2nd 48% 43% 7% Alex Mooney
3rd 55% 38% 5% Evan Jenkins

Maps

  • Support for Moran by county:   >10%   4–5%   3–4%   2–3%   1–2%   <1%
    Support for Moran by county:
      >10%
      4–5%
      3–4%
      2–3%
      1–2%
      <1%
  • Support for Pritt by county:   >11%   10–11%   8–9%   7–8%   6–7%   5–6%   4–5%   3–4%   <3%
    Support for Pritt by county:
      >11%
      10–11%
      8–9%
      7–8%
      6–7%
      5–6%
      4–5%
      3–4%
      <3%

References

  1. ^ Staff, WSAZ News (November 4, 2020). "Justice wins second term as W.Va. governor". www.wsaz.com. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Miller, Tom. "2016 race for governor could be crowded". The Lincoln Journal. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  3. ^ King, Joselyn (May 18, 2011). "Tomblin, Maloney win nominations". Wetzel Chronicle. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  4. ^ Ramsey, Pam (April 19, 2015). "Manchin says he'll stay in Senate, forgoes governor bid". The Journal. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "Ex-US attorney Goodwin files for W.Va. governor race". The Journal. January 4, 2016. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  6. ^ Eyre, Eric (May 11, 2015). "Greenbrier owner Jim Justice enters governor's race". The Charleston Gazette. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
  7. ^ Ebert, Joel (March 19, 2015). "Kessler says he'll run for governor in 2016". Charleston Daily Mail. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "Sunday Sit-Down: West Virginia GOP Chairman Conrad Lucas". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. November 16, 2014. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  9. ^ Jenkins, Jeff (June 15, 2015). "Auditor Gainer planning re-election bid in 2016". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g "West Virginia Undergoing Political, Generational Change". Roll Call. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
  11. ^ "GOP Senate may run purple". Politico. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  12. ^ "Manchin, 50-50 on Possible Return Run for Governor". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. April 7, 2015. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
  13. ^ Raju, Manu (April 14, 2015). "Joe Manchin signals stronger interest in West Virginia governor run". Politico. Retrieved April 14, 2015.
  14. ^ Eric Bradner (April 19, 2015). "Joe Manchin picks Senate over governor's bid". CNN. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  15. ^ Aaron Blake (January 23, 2015). "The 5 best governors races in the country". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "W.Va. Secretary of State Files Early Re-Election Paperwork". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. March 19, 2015. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  18. ^ a b c d MetroNews
  19. ^ a b c d Public Policy Polling
  20. ^ West Virginia Veterans
  21. ^ a b c d MetroNews
  22. ^ Global Strategy Group
  23. ^ a b "Official 2016 Primary Election Results". West Virginia Secretary of State. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  24. ^ Johnson, Shauna (June 2, 2015). "Republican Bill Cole launches 2016 gubernatorial campaign". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  25. ^ a b Deitz, Leah (May 15, 2015). "Jim Justice vying for Governor's Office". Mountain Messenger. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  26. ^ Ebert, Joel (June 17, 2015). "Cole endorsed by Congressman Jenkins". Charleston Daily Mail. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  27. ^ Hicks, Ian (June 1, 2015). "McKinley Won't Run for Governor". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  28. ^ Johnson, Shauna (March 19, 2015). "Morrisey says he is considering a possible run for governor in 2016". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  29. ^ "Morrisey has $850K for possible governor bid". The Journal. April 2, 2015. Archived from the original on April 5, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
  30. ^ Jenkins, Jeff (June 16, 2015). "Morrisey opts to seek reelection instead of governor's office". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  31. ^ a b c d e "WV House Delegation for Cole". Friends of Cole. October 8, 2015. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  32. ^ "U.S. Sen. Capito backs Bill Cole in run for governor". WV MetroNews. April 11, 2016.
  33. ^ "UPDATE: Charleston Mayor announces he's dropped Republican affiliation". wsaz.com. June 17, 2016.
  34. ^ "NFIB endorses Bill Cole for Governor". WV MetroNews. July 18, 2016.
  35. ^ "West Virginia Endorsements 2016". National Right to Life. October 15, 2016. Archived from the original on October 26, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2016.
  36. ^ "W.Va. Coal Association endorses Bill Cole for governor". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. February 13, 2016.
  37. ^ "Endorsement: Republican Bill Cole, governor of W.Va". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. October 23, 2016.
  38. ^ "Daily Mail endorsement: Experience makes Cole a better fit for governor". Charleston Gazette-Mail. October 25, 2016.
  39. ^ "Cole will bring progress to West Virginia". Daily Times. October 17, 2016.
  40. ^ "Elect Cole For Real Progress". The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register. October 15, 2016.
  41. ^ "Cole will deliver progress for W.Va". The Inter-Mountain. October 15, 2016.
  42. ^ "Cole should be the next governor of West Virginia". The Journal. October 16, 2016.
  43. ^ "Leadership: Bill Cole should be our next governor". The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. October 18, 2016.
  44. ^ Harper Polling Archived 2015-07-09 at the Wayback Machine
  45. ^ "Mountain Party chooses Pritt as gubernatorial candidate". The Charleston Gazette. July 16, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
  46. ^ "Back to the future: The return of Charlotte Pritt". July 20, 2016.
  47. ^ "Charlotte Pritt: The Mountain Party's Maverick". November 4, 2016. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
  48. ^ Sconyers, Jim (September 10, 2016). "West Virginia Sierra Club Endorses Pritt For Governor". Sierra Club. Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  49. ^ Staff (April 2016). "WV Libertarians announce candidates for statewide offices". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
  50. ^ "2016 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  51. ^ "Elections 2015-16". Daily Kos. Retrieved October 15, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  52. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  53. ^ "Our Final 2016 picks". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on October 15, 2018. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  54. ^ "2016 Election Maps - 2016 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
  55. ^ "2016 Governors Races Ratings & News". Governing Magazine. Archived from the original on October 27, 2016. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
  56. ^ SurveyMonkey
  57. ^ SurveyMonkey
  58. ^ SurveyMonkey
  59. ^ SurveyMonkey
  60. ^ SurveyMonkey
  61. ^ SurveyMonkey
  62. ^ MetroNews
  63. ^ Global Strategy Group
  64. ^ NMB Research
  65. ^ Garin-Hart-Yang
  66. ^ Just Win Strategies
  67. ^ R.L. Repass & Partners/MetroNews
  68. ^ Global Strategy Group
  69. ^ a b c Orion Strategies
  70. ^ a b Orion Strategies
  71. ^ a b c d e f g Harper Polling Archived 2015-04-14 at the Wayback Machine
  72. ^ a b Harper Polling
  73. ^ Global Strategy Group*
  74. ^ "Statewide Results General Election November 8, 2016". West Virginia Secretary of State. State of West Virginia. Archived from the original on 25 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  75. ^ "Our Campaigns - WV Governor Race - Nov 08, 2016". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved August 19, 2024.

Official campaign websites (Archived)

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