2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election
2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election
County resultsMorrisey: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90%
The 2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the governor of West Virginia , concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election , as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Republican state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey was elected to his first term in office after defeating Democratic Huntington mayor Steve Williams in the general election.[ 1] Incumbent Republican Jim Justice was term-limited and was unable to seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office; he instead ran for the U.S. Senate .[ 2]
First elected in 2016 as a Democrat by 6.8 percentage points, Justice switched parties in August 2017 and won re-election in 2020 as a Republican by 33.3 percentage points. Primary elections took place on May 14, 2024.[ 3] This is the first time since 1972 that Republicans won consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state.
Background
A conservative rural southeastern state, West Virginia is considered extremely Republican at the federal and state levels; Republicans hold all statewide executive offices and supermajorities in both state legislative houses, and from 2015 until he became an Independent in 2024, Senator Joe Manchin had been the state's only congressional Democrat. In the 2020 presidential election , Donald Trump carried West Virginia by 38.93 percentage points.
With Jim Justice term-limited and unable to run for a third consecutive term as Governor, the Republican primary was expected to be competitive and crowded. Most analysts consider Republicans to be a heavy favorite, given the state's partisan lean and the margin from the previous election.[ 4]
Republican primary
Candidates
Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Withdrew
Declined
Endorsements
Moore Capito
Federal politicians
Statewide politicians
Newspapers
Patrick Morrisey
Individuals
Organizations
Debates
Fundraising
Campaign finance reports as of April 28, 2024
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Patrick Morrisey (R)
$3,624,343
$3,078,086
$695,276
Moore Capito (R)
$2,131,285
$1,519,377
$599,354
Chris Miller (R)
$1,615,788
$6,175,751
$519,538
Mac Warner (R)
$559,038
$372,948
$172,787
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State [ 25]
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ a]
Margin of error
Moore Capito
Chris Miller
Patrick Morrisey
Mac Warner
Other
Undecided
Emerson College [ 26]
May 2–5, 2024
558 (LV)
± 4.1%
29%
21%
33%
15%
3%[ b]
–
Research America [ 27] [ A]
April 24 – May 1, 2024
407 (LV)
± 4.9%
24%
25%
32%
10%
3%
6%
NMB Research [ 28] [ B]
April 20–22, 2024
500 (LV)
± 4.4%
31%
14%
23%
13%
–
18%
Research America [ 29] [ A]
April 3–9, 2024
400 (LV)
± 4.9%
29%
16%
31%
12%
3%
10%
WPA Intelligence [ 30] [ C]
April 1–3, 2024
501 (LV)
± 4.4%
20%
19%
37%
14%
–
9%
Emerson College [ 31]
March 19–21, 2024
735 (LV)
± 3.6%
14%
16%
33%
6%
–
29%
WPA Intelligence [ 32] [ C]
November 27–29, 2023
507 (LV)
± 4.4%
23%
10%
39%
14%
–
14%
American Pulse Research & Polling (R)[ 33] [ D]
November 13–14, 2023
414 (LV)
± 4.8%
23%
10%
31%
14%
–
23%
CAMP [ 34] [ E]
November 10–12, 2023
863 (LV)
± 3.26%
18%
11%
24%
21%
5%
21%
Orion Strategies [ 35] [ F]
June 17–20, 2023
651 (LV)
± 6.0%
30%
5%
31%
9%
8%[ c]
17%
National Research Inc. [ 36]
February 23–28, 2023
600 (LV)
± 4.0%
15%
6%
28%
11%
6%[ d]
29%
Results
Results by county: 20–30%
30–40%
40–50%
50–60%
60–70%
Democratic primary
Candidates
Nominee
Declined
Results
Other candidates
Mountain Party
Nominee
Libertarian Party
Nominee
Erika Kolenich, attorney and nominee for governor in 2020 [ 42]
Constitution Party
Nominee
Independents
Declined
Joe Manchin , U.S. Senator (2010–present) and former governor (2005–2010) (endorsed Williams) [ 44]
General election
Predictions
Post-primary endorsements
Steve Williams (D)
Federal officials
Joe Manchin , U.S. Senator (2010–present) and former governor (2005–2010)[ 44]
Debates
2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election debate[ 52]
No.
Date
Host
Moderator
Link
Republican
Democratic
Key: P Participant A Absent N Not invited I Invited W Withdrawn
Morrisey
Williams
1
Oct. 29, 2024
MetroNews
Hoppy Kercheval
C-SPAN
P
P
Fundraising
Campaign finance reports as of October 25, 2024
Candidate
Raised
Spent
Cash on hand
Patrick Morrisey (R)
$6,824,464
$6,183,264
$1,351,895
Steve Williams (D)
$250,255
$92,274
$156,426
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State [ 53]
Polling
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ a]
Margin of error
Patrick Morrisey (R)
Steve Williams (D)
Undecided
Research America [ 54] [ G]
August 21–27, 2024
400 (RV)
± 4.9%
49%
35%
16%[ e]
Hypothetical polling
Patrick Morrisey vs. Joe Manchin vs. Steve Williams
Poll source
Date(s) administered
Sample size[ a]
Margin of error
Patrick Morrisey (R)
Joe Manchin (I)
Steve Williams (D)
Other
Undecided
Kaplan Strategies [ 55]
June 4, 2024
464 (LV)
± 4.6%
34%
26%
21%
1%
18%
Results
By congressional district
Morrisey won both congressional districts.[ 58]
Notes
^ a b c Key: A – all adults RV – registered voters LV – likely voters V – unclear
^ Mitch Roberts with 2%; Kevin Christian with 1%
^ J.B. McCuskey with 3%; "Another candidate" with 5%
^ J.B. McCuskey and Jeff Mullins with 3%
^ "Someone else" with 5%
Partisan clients
^ a b This poll was sponsored by West Virginia MetroNews and The Health Plan
^ This poll was sponsored by the Coalition for West Virginia’s Future, which supports Capito
^ a b Poll commissioned by Black Bear PAC, which supports Morrissey
^ This poll was sponsored by WMOV
^ This poll was sponsored by American Freedom Builders, which supports Warner
^ This poll was sponsored by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
^ Poll sponsored by West Virginia MetroNews
References
^ "West Virginia Governor Election Results 2024: Williams vs. Morrisey" . The New York Times . November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024 .
^ Staff, WDTV News (April 27, 2023). "Gov. Justice announces run for U.S. Senate" . www.wdtv.com . Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023 .
^ "2024 State Primary Election Dates" . www.ncsl.org . Retrieved August 6, 2023 .
^ "West Virginia GOP auditor announces 2024 run for governor" . AP NEWS . February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023 .
^ "AG Morrisey announces 2024 run for Governor" . WDTV . April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023 .
^ McElhinny, Brad (November 29, 2022). "Moore Capito, whose name likely rings a bell, says he's running for West Virginia governor" . WV MetroNews . Retrieved November 29, 2022 .
^ a b "WV SOS - Elections - Candidate - Online Data Services" . apps.sos.wv.gov . Retrieved January 10, 2024 .
^ Adams, Steven. "Chris Miller, Son of Congresswoman Carol Miller, Announces 2024 Run for West Virginia Governor" . www.theintelligencer.net . The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register . Retrieved December 24, 2021 .
^ "W.Va. Secretary of State Mac Warner announces he will run for governor" . WCHS-TV . January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023 .
^ McElhinny, Brad (July 24, 2023). "McCuskey pivots to attorney general's race, and Weld and Stuart say they won't back down" . West Virginia MetroNews . Retrieved July 24, 2023 . Two-term state Auditor J.B. McCuskey, who was competing in a crowded field for governor, has pivoted to the attorney general's race instead.
^ "W.Va. Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt to seek third term" . Kent Leonhardt announced Wednesday he will seek a third term and will not run for governor.
^ "Treasurer Riley Moore jumps into congressional race, another early political announcement" . WV Metro News . November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022 .
^ Hodousek, Carrie (December 1, 2022). "Capito supports son's move to run for governor, says he will bring energy" . Retrieved August 18, 2024 .
^ McElhinny, Brad (April 18, 2024). "Governor Justice endorses Moore Capito to succeed him" . West Virginia MetroNews . Retrieved April 18, 2024 .
^ "In a crowded, quality field, Capito stands out" . The Exponent Telegram . May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ "Former West Virginia University coach Bob Huggins to visit Wheeling to endorse Chris Miller for Governor" . WTRF . April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024 .
^ a b Weaver, Alexandra (May 31, 2023). "Citizens United president makes West Virginia governor endorsement" . WBOY . Retrieved June 20, 2023 .
^ Davanzo, Serena (May 3, 2024). "Vivek Ramaswamy joined Patrick Morrisey on the campaign trail after endorsing him for Governor" . WOAY-TV . Retrieved May 16, 2024 .
^ "Americans for Prosperity Announces Endorsement of Patrick Morrisey for West Virginia Governor" . americansforprosperity.org . July 19, 2023. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023 .
^ "Club for Growth PAC and Black Bear PAC Endorse Patrick Morrisey for Governor" . April 5, 2023. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
^ Edwards, Billy (May 10, 2024). "The National Association for Gun Rights PAC endorses Gubernatorial Candidate Patrick Morrisey for West Virginia" . National Association for Gun Rights . Retrieved May 13, 2024 .
^ "West Virginia" . NRA-PVF . Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved April 6, 2024 .{{cite web }}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link )
^ "WV Coal Association Endorses Slate of Pro-Coal Candidates for 2024 Election" . www.wvcoal.com . August 30, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023 .
^ Gunnoe, Cameron (January 29, 2024). "West Virginia Sheriffs' Association Endorses Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for Governor" . Lootpress . Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved April 6, 2024 .
^ "Governor - 2024 Election" . West Virginia Secretary of State Campaign Finance Reporting System .
^ Emerson College
^ Research America
^ NMB Research
^ Research America
^ WPA Intelligence
^ Emerson College
^ WPA Intelligence
^ American Pulse Research & Polling (R)
^ CAMP
^ Orion Strategies
^ National Research Inc.
^ a b "West Virginia Governor Primary Election 2024 Live Results" . www.nbcnews.com . Retrieved August 18, 2024 .
^ Staff, WSAZ News (September 4, 2023). "Huntington Mayor says he plans to file to run for Governor of W.Va" . WSAZ . Retrieved September 4, 2023 .
^ Doherty, Erin (January 22, 2023). "Manchin on 2024 political ambitions: "Everything is on table" " . Axios . Retrieved January 22, 2023 . He did rule out running for West Virginia governor in 2024.
^ McElhinny, Brad (July 5, 2023). "Salango says he won't repeat bid for governor; Huntington Mayor Williams says he's closer to launch" . West Virginia MetroNews . Retrieved July 5, 2023 .
^ Lawrence, Brandy (June 20, 2023). "Chase Linko-Looper announces candidacy for Governor" . WOAY . Retrieved June 22, 2023 .
^ "Libertarian Party selects candidate for West Virginia governor" . WBOY.com . December 1, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2024 .
^ Patterson, Jessica (July 30, 2024). "Former Del. Wilson joins ballot for West Virginia governor's race as Constitution Party candidate" . WFXR-TV . Retrieved August 1, 2024 .
^ a b McClung, Ty (May 29, 2024). "Manchin addresses rumors about run for WV governor" . The Herald-Dispatch . Retrieved May 30, 2024 .
^ "2024 Governor Race ratings" . The Cook Political Report . Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "Gubernatorial Ratings" . Inside Elections . Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "2024 Gubernatorial race ratings" . Sabato's Crystal Ball . Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "2024 Governor Races" . www.realclearpolling.com . Retrieved July 16, 2024 .
^ "Election Ratings" . Elections Daily . July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 .
^ "Governor Forecasts" . CNalysis . Retrieved August 17, 2024 .
^ "Trump endorses Patrick Morrisey in race for W.Va. governor" . WCHS-TV . May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024 .
^ McElhinny, Brad (October 1, 2024). "Morrisey and Williams, candidates for governor, agree to MetroNews debate" . West Virginia MetroNews . Retrieved October 1, 2024 .
^ "Governor - 2024 Election" . West Virginia Secretary of State Campaign Finance Reporting System .
^ Research America
^ Kaplan Strategies
^ https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/122766/web.345435/#/detail/300
^ https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/2024%20General%20Write-in%20Results.pdf
^ "2024 West Virginia Election Results by Congressional District" .
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