2016 West Virginia elections

West Virginia held elections on November 8, 2016. Elections for the United States House, as well as for several statewide offices including the governorship were held. These elections were held concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other elections nationwide. Primary elections were held on May 10, 2016.

Federal offices

President

Republican Donald Trump easily carried West Virginia, capturing 68.5% of the vote and sweeping every county in the state, his strongest vote share in the nation.[1]

House of Representatives

All 3 Incumbent Republican U.S. Representatives were easily reelected, all increasing their vote share compared to 2014.[2]

Governor

Incumbent Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin was term-limited from running again in 2016. State Senate President Bill Cole ran unopposed in the Republican primary contest, while businessman Jim Justice defeated multiple opponents in the Democratic primary contest. The state's Republican trend, coupled with past scandals surrounding Justice's unpaid taxes and business controversies, made the race extremely competitive. Justice went on to narrowly win the election, capturing 49.1% of the vote.[3] Justice would go on to switch party affiliation just months after being in office, announcing he would become a Republican at an August 4, 2017 rally with President Trump.[4]

State Legislature

State senate

18 of the 34 State Senate seats were up for election in 2016, with 3 Democrats and 1 Republican incumbents not running for reelection. Republicans won a net gain of 4 seats, increasing their majority in the state senate from 18 to 22 seats.[5]

House of Delegates

All 100 seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates were up for election, with 13 Republican and 8 Democratic incumbents not running for reelection. The Republican majority sustained a net loss of 1 seat, decreasing the majority from 64 seats to 63.[6] This soon changed when Democrat Rupert Phillips Jr. switched party affiliation to Independent in January 2017, and then to Republican in May 2017 reestablishing the 64-36 majority from 2014.[7]

Attorney General

Republican incumbent Patrick Morrisey successfully sought re-election, defeating Delegate Doug Reynolds, and capturing 51.63% of the vote.[8]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patrick Morrisey (incumbent) 157,369 100.00
Total votes 157,369 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Doug Reynolds 187,786 100.00
Total votes 187,786 100.00

General election

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patrick Morrisey (incumbent) 358,424 51.63
Democratic Doug Reynolds 291,232 41.95
Libertarian Karl Kolenich 24,023 3.46
Mountain Michael Sharley 20,475 2.95
Total votes 694,154 100.00

Secretary of State

Republican challenger Mac Warner defeated incumbent Democrat Natalie Tennant who had held the position since 2008. He captured 48.52% of the vote.[9]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mac Warner 105,800 63.33
Republican Barry Holstein 61,271 36.67
Total votes 167,071 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Natalie Tennant (incumbent) 192,176 77.18
Democratic Patsy Trecost 56,832 22.82
Total votes 249,008 100.00

General election

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mac Warner 335,526 48.52
Democratic Natalie Tennant (incumbent) 323,750 46.82
Libertarian John S. Buckley 32,179 4.65
Total votes 691,455 100.00

Treasurer

Democratic incumbent John Perdue, who had held the West Virginia State Treasurer's position since 1996, was re-elected with 50.33% of the vote. He defeated Republican challenger and businesswoman Ann Urling. Perdue became the only Democrat to hold statewide office in West Virginia after Governor Justice's party switch in 2017.[10]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Ann Urling 88,703 54.94
Republican Larry V. Faircloth 72,741 45.06
Total votes 161,444 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Perdue (incumbent) 208,203 100.00
Total votes 208,203 100.00

General election

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic John Perdue (incumbent) 338,018 50.33
Republican Ann Urling 293,671 43.73
Libertarian Michael A. Young 39,865 5.94
Total votes 671,554 100.00

Auditor

Republican JB McCuskey was elected with 58.48% of the vote over Democrat Mary Ann Clayton. This marks the first time since 1928 that a Republican had won the office. The seat was open after the resignation of Democrat Glen Glainer III, who had held the office since 1992. In May 2016, Lisa Hopkins was appointed as interim Auditor until the election.[11]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican JB McCuskey 149,793 100.00
Total votes 149,793 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mary Ann Claytor 93,790 43.95
Democratic Jason Pizatella 73,371 34.38
Democratic Robin Righter 46,257 21.67
Total votes 213,418 100.00

General election

General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican JB McCuskey 385,831 58.48
Democratic Mary Ann Claytor 228,001 34.56
Libertarian Brenton Ricketts 45,908 6.96
Total votes 659,740 100.00

Commissioner of Agriculture

  Leonhardt
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%
  Helmick
  •   40-50%
  •   50-60%
  •   60-70%

Elected in 2012, incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Walt Helmick was defeated by Republican challenger Kent Leonhardt.[12]

Republican primary

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kent Leonhardt 147,782 100.00
Total votes 147,782 100.00

Democratic primary

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Walt Helmick (incumbent) 194,220 100.00
Total votes 194,220 100.00
General election results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Kent Leonhardt 321,560 48.41
Democratic Walt Helmick (incumbent) 274,191 41.28
Libertarian Buddy A. Guthrie 68,502 10.31
Total votes 664,253 100.00

References

  1. ↑ "Presidential election in West Virginia, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  2. ↑ "United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  3. ↑ "West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  4. ↑ Kabler, Phil (August 3, 2017). "WV Gov. Justice switching political parties, returning to GOP". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  5. ↑ "West Virginia State Senate elections, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  6. ↑ "West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  7. ↑ Johnson, Shauna (January 26, 2017). "Logan County delegate leaves Democratic Party". WV MetroNews. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  8. ↑ "West Virginia Attorney General election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  9. ↑ "West Virginia Secretary of State election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  10. ↑ "West Virginia Treasurer election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  11. ↑ "West Virginia Auditor election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
  12. ↑ "West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
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