2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2012 United States gubernatorial elections.

2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election

* * *

| <- 2011 (special) | November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) | 2016 ->

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|  |  |

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Nominee  | Earl Ray Tomblin | Bill Maloney |
Party  | Democratic | Republican
Popular vote  | 335,468 | 303,291
Percentage  | 50.49% | 45.65%

* * *

County results

Congressional district results

Tomblin:  40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80%
Maloney:  40–50% 50–60% 60–70%

* * *

| Governor before election

Earl Ray Tomblin
Democratic

| Elected Governor

Earl Ray Tomblin
Democratic

|

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* v
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* e

The 2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Democratic incumbent Earl Ray Tomblin, who was elected governor in a special election in 2011, was elected to a full four-year term. The election was a rematch of the 2011 special election.

As of 2025, this was the last gubernatorial election in which a Democratic governor was re-elected in the state.

## Democratic primary

[edit]

### Candidates

[edit]

* Arne Moltis, candidate for governor in 2011[1]
* Earl Ray Tomblin, incumbent governor[2]

#### Declined

[edit]

* Jeff Kessler, state senator, president of the state senate, and candidate for governor in 2011[3]
* Brooks McCabe, state senator[3]

### Results

[edit]

Democratic primary results[4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

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| Democratic | Earl Ray Tomblin (incumbent)  | 170,481  | 84.4%
| Democratic | Arne Moltis  | 31,587  | 15.6%
Total votes | 202,068  | 100.0%

## Republican primary

[edit]

### Candidates

[edit]

* Ralph William Clark, philosophy professor at West Virginia University and candidate for governor in 2011[5]
* Bill Maloney, businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011[5]

#### Declined

[edit]

* Clark Barnes, state senator and candidate for governor in 2011[3] (did not file)
* Mark Sorsaia, Putnam County prosecutor and candidate for governor in 2011[3] (did not file)
* Mike Stuart, West Virginia Republican Party chairman[6]

### Results

[edit]

Republican primary results[4] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %

|
|
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| Republican | Bill Maloney  | 86,925  | 83.5%
| Republican | Ralph William Clark  | 17,165  | 16.5%
Total votes | 104,090  | 100.0%

## General election

[edit]

### Candidates

[edit]

* Jesse Johnson (Mountain), former gubernatorial and senate nominee[7]
* Bill Maloney (R), businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011
* David Moran (Libertarian), farmer and retired engineer[8]
* Earl Ray Tomblin (D), incumbent governor

### Other potential candidates

[edit]

* Norman Ferguson (NPA)[3]
* Phil Hudok (Constitution), write-in candidate for governor in 2011[3]

### Debates

[edit]

* Complete video of debate, October 9, 2012 - C-SPAN

### Predictions

[edit]

Source  | Ranking  | As of

|
|

The Cook Political Report[9] | Lean D  | November 1, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] | Lean D  | November 5, 2012
Rothenberg Political Report[11] | Lean D  | November 2, 2012
Real Clear Politics[12] | Likely D  | November 5, 2012

### Polling

[edit]

Poll source  | Date(s)
administered  | Sample
size  | Margin of
error  | Earl Ray
Tomblin (D)  | Bill
Maloney (R)  | Undecided

|
|
|
|
|
|

R.L. Repass[13] | August 22–25, 2012  | 401  | ± 4.9%  | 56% | 35%  | 9%
R.L. Repass[14] | April 25–28, 2012  | 410  | ± 4.8%  | 60% | 32%  | 8%

### Results

[edit]

West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2012[15] Party  | Candidate  | Votes  | %  | ±%

|
|
|
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| Democratic | Earl Ray Tomblin (incumbent)  | 335,468  | 50.49%  | +0.94%
| Republican | Bill Maloney | 303,291  | 45.65%  | −1.40%
| Mountain | Jesse Johnson | 16,787  | 2.53%  | +0.51%
| Libertarian | David Moran  | 8,909  | 1.34%  | N/A
Total votes  | 664,455  | 100.00%  | N/A
| Democratic hold

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

[edit]

* Calhoun (Largest city: Grantsville)
* Gilmer (Largest city: Glenville)
* Hardy (Largest city: Moorefield)
* Jefferson (Largest city: Charles Town)
* Ohio (largest borough: Wheeling)
* Pendleton (Largest city: Franklin)
* Pocahontas (Largest city: Marlinton)
* Roane (Largest city: Spencer)
* Wirt (largest municipality: Elizabeth)
* Wood (largest municipality: Parkersburg)

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

[edit]

* Barbour (Largest city: Philippi)
* Mercer (Largest city: Bluefield)
* Raleigh (Largest city: Beckley)

#### By congressional district

[edit]

Ray Tomblin won two of three congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.[16]

District  | Ray Tomblin  | Maloney  | Representative

|
|
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1st | 47.99%  | 48.21% | David McKinley
2nd | 49.4% | 46.19%  | Shelley Moore Capito
3rd | 54.43% | 42.25%  | Nick Rahall

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Messina, Lawrence (January 28, 2012). "W.Va. candidates file for Congress, state offices". The Washington Examiner. Associated Press. Retrieved January 29, 2012.[permanent dead link]
2. ^ Ali, Ann (January 19, 2012). "Tomblin files for governor". State Journal. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
3. ^ a b c d e f Hicks, Ian (November 29, 2011). "Maloney May Try Again". The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register. Archived from the original on May 18, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
4. ^ a b "Statewide Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Archived from the original on December 7, 2015. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
5. ^ a b Rivard, Ry; Hunt, Jared (January 26, 2012). "Maloney ready for another shot against Tomblin". Charleston Daily Mail. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
6. ^ Rivard, Ry (October 25, 2011). "GOP Chairman: Not running for public office in '12". Charleston Daily Mail. Archived from the original on October 30, 2011. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
7. ^ "Mountain Party nominates Johnson, Baber at Sutton convention". The Charleston Gazette. July 24, 2012. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
8. ^ "David Moran for Governor". Libertarian Party of West Virginia. Archived from the original on October 2, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2012.
9. ^ "2012 Governor Race Ratings for November 1, 2012". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
10. ^ "PROJECTION: OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN SECOND TERM". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Archived from the original on December 1, 2018. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
11. ^ "2012 Gubernatorial Ratings". Gubernatorial Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
12. ^ "2012 Elections Map - 2012 Governor Races". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
13. ^ R.L. Repass
14. ^ R.L. Repass
15. ^ "WV SOS - Elections - Election Results - Online Data Services". Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
16. ^ "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts". Daily Kos. Retrieved August 11, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Elections Division at the West Virginia secretary of state

Candidate sites (Archived)

* Bill Maloney for Governor
* Earl Ray Tomblin for Governor
* David Moran for Governor

* v
* t
* e

West Virginia gubernatorial elections

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* 1864
* 1866
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* 1872
* 1876
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* 1884
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* 1908
* 1912
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