2008 West Virginia elections
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57.92%[1]
November 4, 2008
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| Registered | 1,212,117 |
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| Turnout | 702,109 57.92%[1] |
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| Elections in West Virginia |
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West Virginia's 2008 general elections were held on November 4, 2008, with Primary elections being held on May 13, 2008. In the 2008 general election in West Virginia, Democratic candidates won 2 out of 3 U.S. House seats, all statewide executive offices, the U.S. Senate seat up for election, and majorities in both state legislative chambers.
President
Republican nominee John McCain won West Virginia against Democratic nominee Barack Obama with 55.6% of the vote.
Senate
Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, was re-elected, defeating Republican nominee Jay Wolfe with 63% of the vote.[2]
House of Representatives
1st congressional district
Democratic incumbent Alan Mollohan, who has represented the 1st district since 1983, easily won re-election as he faced no opposition, receiving 99.93% of the vote.[3]
2nd congressional district
Republican incumbent Shelley Moore Capito, who has represented the 2nd district since 2001, won re-election against Democratic nominee Anne Barth, receiving 57% of the vote.[4]
3rd congressional district
Democratic incumbent Nick Rahall, who has represented the 3rd district since 1993 (and previously represented the 4th district from 1977 to 1993) won re-election against Republican nominee Marty Gearheart, receiving 67% of the vote.[5]
State
Constitutional officers
Governor
Incumbent Democratic Governor Joe Manchin was re-elected against Republican nominee Russell E. 'Russ' Weeks Jr., receiving 70% of the vote.[6][7]
Secretary of State
November 4, 2008
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County results Tennant: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Minimah: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democrat Natalie Tennant won her first term with 65% of the vote over Republican Charles Theophilus Minimah.
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| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Natalie Tennant | 437,430 | 65.51% | |
| Republican | Charles Theophilus Minimah | 230,283 | 34.49% | |
| Total votes | 667,713 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Natalie Tennant | 172,458 | 51.38% | |
| Democratic | Joe DeLong | 120,264 | 35.83% | |
| Democratic | Billy Wayne Bailey, Jr | 42,902 | 12.78% | |
| Total votes | 335,624 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Charles Theophilus Minimah | 79,000 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 79,000 | 100.00% | ||
Attorney General
November 4, 2008
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County results McGraw: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Greear: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Democrat Darrell V. McGraw, Jr. (incumbent) won re-election with 50.39% of the vote over Republican Daniel W. Greear.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Darrell V. McGraw, Jr. | 342,011 | 50.39% | |
| Republican | Daniel W. Greear | 336,699 | 49.61% | |
| Total votes | 678,710 | 100.00% | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Darrell V. McGraw, Jr. | 172,458 | 100.00% | |
| Total votes | 172,458 | 100.00% | ||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Daniel W. Greear | 53,121 | 55.60% | |
| Republican | Hiram Lewis, IV | 42,426 | 44.40% | |
| Total votes | 95,547 | 100.00% | ||
Treasurer

- 90–100%
Democratic incumbent John Perdue, won re-election with 99.94% as he faced no opposition.[9]
Auditor

- 90–100%
Democratic incumbent Glen Gainer III, won re-election with 99.94% as he faced no opposition.[10]
Commissioner of Agriculture

- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
Democratic incumbent Gus Douglass, who has held the position of state Agriculture Commissioner since 1993 (and previously held the position from 1965 to 1989), won re-election against Republican nominee J. Michael Teets.[11][12]
Legislature
State Senate
17 of the 34 members of the West Virginia Senate were up for election. The state Senate consisted of 23 Democrats and 11 Republicans. Democrats won 14 of the 17 races. This meant Democrats retained control of the State Senate and expanded that majority resulting in a 26 to 8 Democratic advantage.[13]
State House of Delegates
All 100 members of the West Virginia House of Delegates were up for election. The state House previously consisted of 72 Democrats and 28 Republicans. Democrats won 71 of the 100 races, with Republicans gaining one seat, making the new balance of power 71–29.[14]