1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election
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The 1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1972, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Incumbent governor Arch A. Moore, Jr. successfully ran for reelection to a second term. This was the first time a governor was reelected to a second four-year term in state history, and the first time a governor had been reelected since 1872.
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November 7, 1972
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 County results Moore: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Rockefeller: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Both the primaries and general election were held in the aftermath of the Buffalo Creek flood and a movement to abolish strip mining in the state. Democratic nominee Jay Rockefeller campaigned on a proposal to abolish strip mining entirely if elected.[1]
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Lee Mountcastle Kenna, Kanawha County Assessor[1] and founder of the Sunrise Museum
- Bobbie Edward Myers, Huntington businessman[1]
- Jay Rockefeller, West Virginia Secretary of State and member of the Rockefeller family
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Jay Rockefeller | 262,613 | 72.20% | |
| Democratic | Lee M. Kenna | 63,514 | 17.46% | |
| Democratic | Bobbie Edward Myers | 37,616 | 10.34% | |
| Total votes | 363,743 | 100.00% | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Arch A. Moore, Jr. (incumbent) | 423,817 | 54.74 | |
| Democratic | Jay Rockefeller | 350,462 | 45.26 | |
| Total votes | 774,279 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
