The 2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Democratic incumbent Earl Ray Tomblin, who was elected governor in a special election in 2011, was elected to a full four-year term. The election was a rematch of the 2011 special election.

As of 2026, this was the last time a Democratic governor was re-elected in the state, the last time a Democrat won and served a full term as Governor of West Virginia,and the last time a Democrat was elected Governor of West Virginia with a majority of votes.

Democratic primary

Candidates Arne Moltis, candidate for governor in 2011 Earl Ray Tomblin, incumbent governor

Declined Jeff Kessler, state senator, president of the state senate, and candidate for governor in 2011 Brooks McCabe, state senator

Results

Republican primary

Candidates Ralph William Clark, philosophy professor at West Virginia University and candidate for governor in 2011 Bill Maloney, businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011

Declined Clark Barnes, state senator and candidate for governor in 2011 (did not file) Mark Sorsaia, Putnam County prosecutor and candidate for governor in 2011 (did not file) Mike Stuart, West Virginia Republican Party chairman

Results

General election

Candidates Jesse Johnson (Mountain), former gubernatorial and senate nominee Bill Maloney (R), businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011 David Moran (Libertarian), farmer and retired engineer Earl Ray Tomblin (D), incumbent governor

Other potential candidates Norman Ferguson (NPA) Phil Hudok (Constitution), write-in candidate for governor in 2011

Debates Complete video of debate, October 9, 2012 - C-SPAN

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report November 1, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 Rothenberg Political Report November 2, 2012 Real Clear Politics November 5, 2012

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Earl RayTomblin (D) BillMaloney (R) UndecidedR.L. Repass August 22–25, 2012 401 ± 4.9% 56% 35% 9%R.L. Repass April 25–28, 2012 410 ± 4.8% 60% 32% 8%

Results

By county CountyEarl Ray TomblinDemocraticBill MaloneyRepublicanJesse JohnsonMountainDavid MoranLibertarianMarginTotal#%#%#%#%#%Barbour2,75747.98%2,78948.54%1011.76%991.72%−32−0.56%5,746Berkeley17,19547.13%17,99949.33%6351.74%6581.80%−804−2.20%36,487Boone5,80066.99%2,62430.31%1802.08%540.62%3,17636.68%8,658Braxton2,79659.10%1,78437.71%1152.43%360.76%1,01221.39%4,731Brooke5,06755.49%3,79741.58%1331.46%1351.48%1,27013.91%9,132Cabell17,44754.52%13,35741.74%8012.50%3961.24%4,09012.78%32,001Calhoun1,05148.50%98645.50%964.43%341.57%653.00%2,167Clay1,60552.99%1,27842.19%1264.16%200.66%32710.80%3,029Doddridge87232.00%1,72163.16%943.45%381.39%−849−31.16%2,725Fayette7,35352.67%5,93242.49%5053.62%1701.22%1,42110.18%13,960Gilmer1,34553.71%1,03341.25%893.55%371.48%31212.46%2,504Grant1,45332.35%2,91964.98%641.42%561.25%−1,466−32.64%4,492Greenbrier6,35749.52%5,82145.35%4823.75%1771.38%5364.18%12,837Hampshire3,61045.79%3,94450.03%1882.38%1421.80%−334−4.24%7,884Hancock6,07751.06%5,45445.83%1841.55%1861.56%6235.23%11,901Hardy2,86855.87%2,07440.41%1001.95%911.77%79415.47%5,133Harrison12,81849.18%12,46047.80%5342.05%2530.97%3581.37%26,065Jackson5,50847.48%5,71149.23%2962.55%850.73%−203−1.75%11,600Jefferson11,09150.97%9,51443.72%6663.06%4902.25%1,5777.25%21,761Kanawha38,78552.21%31,58442.52%3,3524.51%5630.76%7,2019.69%74,284Lewis2,92046.03%3,19250.32%1352.13%961.51%−272−4.29%6,343Lincoln4,24161.32%2,47635.80%1522.20%470.68%1,76525.52%6,916Logan9,48078.83%2,39319.90%890.74%640.53%7,08758.93%12,026Marion11,35853.05%9,23643.14%4462.08%3701.73%2,1229.91%21,410Marshall6,59351.53%5,80745.38%2411.88%1541.20%7866.14%12,795Mason5,21253.42%4,22943.35%2112.16%1041.07%98310.08%9,756McDowell4,00765.94%1,91931.58%881.45%631.04%2,08834.36%6,077Mercer9,25744.36%10,97452.59%4101.96%2261.08%−1,717−8.23%20,867Mineral4,87444.72%5,70852.37%1201.10%1971.81%−834−7.65%10,899Mingo6,07868.44%2,65629.91%951.07%520.59%3,42238.53%8,881Monongalia14,16045.73%15,03448.55%1,1423.69%6282.03%−874−2.82%30,964Monroe2,32045.04%2,59250.32%1773.44%621.20%−272−5.28%5,151Morgan3,07544.85%3,43950.16%2032.96%1392.03%−364−5.31%6,856Nicholas4,36749.46%4,17347.26%2062.33%830.94%1942.20%8,829Ohio8,60348.67%8,51948.19%3381.91%2171.23%840.48%17,677Pendleton1,72053.40%1,39143.19%682.11%421.30%32910.21%3,221Pleasants1,45251.49%1,30646.31%311.10%311.10%1465.18%2,820Pocahontas1,86353.40%1,38439.67%1855.30%571.63%47913.73%3,489Preston4,09637.30%6,02054.82%2202.00%6455.87%−1,924−17.52%10,981Putnam10,30343.67%12,53453.13%5842.48%1720.73%−2,231−9.46%23,593Raleigh12,60244.43%14,90052.53%5772.03%2841.00%−2,298−8.10%28,363Randolph5,07052.52%4,11542.63%2993.10%1691.75%9559.89%9,653Ritchie1,43838.48%2,17158.09%842.25%441.18%−733−19.61%3,737Roane2,60951.76%2,19143.46%1853.67%561.11%4188.29%5,041Summers2,51153.57%1,96942.01%1523.24%551.17%54211.56%4,687Taylor2,75546.62%2,96950.24%871.47%991.68%−214−3.62%5,910Tucker1,52748.62%1,42045.21%642.04%1304.14%1073.41%3,141Tyler1,42443.90%1,71152.74%682.10%411.26%−287−8.85%3,244Upshur3,42541.66%4,46454.29%2092.54%1241.51%−1,039−12.64%8,222Wayne7,71355.08%5,92842.33%2411.72%1220.87%1,78512.75%14,004Webster1,63558.58%1,01936.51%1003.58%371.33%61622.07%2,791Wetzel3,28256.19%2,36740.52%1172.00%751.28%91515.67%5,841Wirt1,07149.45%1,03047.55%341.57%311.43%411.89%2,166Wood16,28448.55%16,27248.52%5671.69%4151.24%120.04%33,538Wyoming4,28857.41%3,00240.19%1211.62%580.78%1,28617.22%7,469Totals335,46850.49%303,29145.65%16,7872.53%8,9091.34%32,1774.84%664,455

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic Calhoun (Largest city: Grantsville) Gilmer (Largest city: Glenville) Hardy (Largest city: Moorefield) Jefferson (Largest city: Charles Town) Ohio (largest borough: Wheeling) Pendleton (Largest city: Franklin) Pocahontas (Largest city: Marlinton) Roane (Largest city: Spencer) Wirt (largest municipality: Elizabeth) Wood (largest municipality: Parkersburg)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Barbour (Largest city: Philippi) Mercer (Largest city: Bluefield) Raleigh (Largest city: Beckley)

By congressional district Ray Tomblin won two of three congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.

District Ray Tomblin Maloney Representative 47.99% 48.21%David McKinley 49.4% 46.19%Shelley Moore Capito 54.43% 42.25%Nick Rahall

Notes

References

External links Elections Division at the West Virginia secretary of state Candidate sites (Archived) Bill Maloney for Governor Earl Ray Tomblin for Governor David Moran for Governor