2012 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election
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The 2012 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on May 8, 2012.[1]
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November 6, 2012
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Helmick: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Leonhardt: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent Democratic commissioner Gus Douglass, the longest serving agriculture commissioner in U.S. history, opted not to seek re-election to an eleventh term in office.[2][3] Democratic state senator Walt Helmick won the open seat over Republican candidate Kent Leonhardt.[4] Helmick later lost re-election in 2016 in a rematch with Leonhardt.
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Walt Helmick, state senator from the 15th district (1994–present) and 12th district (1990–1994)[1]
Eliminated in primary
- Joe Messineo, farmer[5]
- Steve Miller, assistant agriculture commissioner[6]
- Sally Shepherd, farmer and former waste authority director for Kanawha County[7]
- Bob Tabb, deputy commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture[8][9]
Declined
- Gus Douglass, incumbent commissioner of agriculture (1993–present, 1965–1989) (endorsed Miller)[2][10]
Endorsements
Local officials
- Mike Teets, commissioner of Hardy County and nominee for commissioner of agriculture in 2008 (Republican)[10]
Statewide officials
- Gus Douglass, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture (1993–present, 1965–1989)[10]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Walt Helmick | 59,376 | 32.89 | |
| Democratic | Sally Shepherd | 44,454 | 24.62 | |
| Democratic | Steve Miller | 39,130 | 21.67 | |
| Democratic | Joe Messineo | 24,613 | 13.63 | |
| Democratic | Bob Tabb | 12,976 | 7.19 | |
| Total votes | 180,549 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
- Kent Leonhardt, former Marine Corps lieutenant colonel[12]
Withdrew
- Mike Teets, commissioner of Hardy County and nominee for commissioner of agriculture in 2008 (endorsed Helmick)[13][10]
General election
Post-primary endorsements
Labor unions
Newspapers and other media
Organizations
- West Virginia Chamber of Commerce[17]
- Friends of Coal[18]
- NRA Political Victory Fund[16]
- West Virginia Sheriffs' Association[16]
Organizations
- West Virginia Farm Bureau[19]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Walt Helmick | 316,591 | 51.59 | ||
| Republican | Kent Leonhardt | 297,088 | 48.41 | ||
| Total votes | 613,679 | 100.0 | |||
| Democratic hold | |||||
By congressional district
Helmick won two of three congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.[21]
| District | Helmick | Leonhardt | Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 46% | 54% | David McKinley |
| 2nd | 53% | 47% | Shelley Moore Capito |
| 3rd | 57% | 43% | Nick Rahall |