The 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 2016, to elect the governor of West Virginia, concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. The primaries were held on May 10.

Incumbent Democratic governor Earl Ray Tomblin was barred from running for a second full term. He had ascended to the governorship upon Joe Manchin's resignation in 2010, won a 2011 special election to complete the term, and won a full term in 2012. Under the West Virginia Constitution, a partial term counts toward the limit of two consecutive terms.

Democratic nominee Jim Justice, a hotelier and coal baron, won the open seat with a plurality of the vote, defeating Republican state senator Bill Cole and former state senator Charlotte Pritt, who ran as a member of the Mountain Party. As of 2024, this is the last time a Democrat was elected governor of West Virginia, the last West Virginia gubernatorial race where the winner won less than 61% of votes, and the last West Virginia gubernatorial race where the winner did not win every county. Justice switched parties in August 2017 and was re-elected as a Republican in 2020, giving Republicans the governorship for the first time since 2001 and a trifecta in the state for the first time since 1931.

Background In November 2010, Democratic governor Joe Manchin resigned after being elected to the U.S. Senate. Earl Ray Tomblin, the president of the West Virginia Senate (with the honorary title of lieutenant governor), became acting governor, won an October 2011 special election to complete the term, and won a full term in the regularly scheduled 2012 election. Tomblin was ineligible to run for re-election in 2016, as the Constitution of West Virginia limits governors to two consecutive terms regardless of whether they are full or partial terms. However, governors are re-eligible after four years out of office.

After publicly speculating he would run for his former office, Manchin was considered a heavy favorite in the 2016 race, but he announced on April 19, 2015, that he would remain in the Senate instead.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared Booth Goodwin, former United States attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia Jim Justice, coal baron Jeff Kessler, minority leader of the West Virginia Senate, former president of the West Virginia Senate and candidate for governor in 2011

Declined Glen Gainer III, West Virginia state auditor and nominee for West Virginia's 1st congressional district in 2014 Carte Goodwin, former U.S. senator Mike Green, former state senator Walt Helmick, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Joe Manchin, U.S. senator and former governor John Perdue, West Virginia State Treasurer and candidate for governor in 2011 Doug Reynolds, state delegate Doug Skaff, former state delegate Natalie Tennant, West Virginia Secretary of State, candidate for governor in 2011 and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2014 (running for re-election) Rick Thompson, West Virginia Secretary of Veterans Assistance, former speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates and candidate for governor in 2011

Polling {| class="wikitable" |- valign= bottom ! style="width:170px;"| Poll source ! style="width:170px;"| Date(s)administered ! class=small | Samplesize ! class=small | error ! style="width:100px;"| JimJustice ! style="width:100px;"| BoothGoodwin ! style="width:100px;"| JeffKessler ! Undecided |- |MetroNewsMetroNews | align=center| April 22–May 2, 2016 | align=center| 315 | align=center| ± 4.0% | align=center| 32% | align=center| 27% | align=center| 23% | align=center| 18% |- |Public Policy PollingPublic Policy Polling | align=center| April 29–May 1, 2016 | align=center| 637 | align=center| ± 3.9% | align=center| 37% | align=center| 23% | align=center| 19% | align=center| 21% |- |West Virginia VeteransWest Virginia Veterans | align=center| March 2–6, 2016 | align=center| 600 | align=center| ± 3.9% | align=center| 36% | align=center| 20% | align=center| 16% | align=center| 28% |- |MetroNewsMetroNews | align=center| February 11–16, 2016 | align=center| 208 | align=center| ± 4.9% | align=center| 32% | align=center| 25% | align=center| 23% | align=center| 21% |- |Global Strategy Group^ | align=center| December 1–3, 2015 | align=center| 350 | align=center| ± 5.2% | align=center| 39% | align=center| 13% | align=center| 19% | align=center| 21%

^ Indicates a poll taken for Jim Justice campaign.

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared Bill Cole, president of the West Virginia Senate

Did not file Andrew Utterback, college student and candidate for mayor of Pineville in 2014 Edwin Vanover, former Bramwell police chief and Democratic candidate for House of Delegates in 2012

Declined Evan Jenkins, U.S. representative David McKinley, U.S. representative and candidate for governor in 1996 (running for re-election) Patrick Morrisey, attorney general of West Virginia (running for re-election) Mary Lou Retton, Olympic gymnast Erikka Storch, state delegate

Endorsements

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BillCole DavidMcKinley PatrickMorrisey UndecidedHarper PollingHarper Polling April 9–11, 2015 242 ± 6.3% 15% 31% 25% 29%

Results

Mountain Party

Candidates

Declared Charlotte Pritt, former Democratic state delegate, former Democratic state senator, write-in candidate for governor in 1992 and Democratic nominee for governor in 1996

Endorsements

Libertarian Party

Candidates

Declared David Moran, retired engineer and farmer

General election Debates Complete video of debate, October 11, 2016 - C-SPAN

Predictions Source Ranking As of The Cook Political Report August 12, 2016 Daily Kos November 8, 2016 Rothenberg Political Report November 3, 2016 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 7, 2016 Real Clear Politics November 1, 2016 Governing October 27, 2016

Polling

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JimJustice (D) BillCole (R) CharlottePritt (M) DavidMoran (L) PhilHudok (C) UndecidedSurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey November 1–7, 2016 472 ± 4.6% 36% 45% 13% — — 6%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 31–November 6, 2016 443 ± 4.6% 37% 43% 13% — — 7%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 28–November 3, 2016 386 ± 4.6% 40% 42% 12% — — 6%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 27–November 2, 2016 330 ± 4.6% 39% 44% 10% — — 7%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 26–November 1, 2016 318 ± 4.6% 42% 41% 12% — — 5%SurveyMonkeySurveyMonkey October 25–31, 2016 321 ± 4.6% 42% 43% 13% — — 2%MetroNewsMetroNews October 12–17, 2016 408 ± 4.9% 44% 33% 8% 5% — 9%Global Strategy GroupGlobal Strategy Group October 11–13, 2016 N/A ± 4.0% 44% 34% 8% 2% — 12%NMB ResearchNMB Research October 8–10, 2016 N/A ± 4.4%39% 39% 5% 2% 1% 12%Garin-Hart-YangGarin-Hart-Yang September 13–17, 2016 500 ± 5.0% 46% 33% 7% 4% — 10%Just Win StrategiesJust Win Strategies→ September 8–10, 2016 600 ± 4.0% 44% 42% 3% 2% 2% 7%R.L. Repass & Partners/MetroNewsR.L. Repass & Partners/MetroNews August 9–28, 2016 435 ± 4.7% 46% 32% 8% 5% — 9%Global Strategy Group August 1–3, 2016 419 ± 4.8% 47% 37% — — — 15%Public Policy Polling April 29–May 1, 2016 1,201 ± 2.8% 41% 35% — — — 24%MetroNews April 22–May 2, 2016 596 ± 4.0% 52% 34% — — — 14%Orion StrategiesOrion Strategies February 20–21, 2016 306 ± 5.6% 37% 33% — — — 30%MetroNews February 11–16, 2016 411 ± 4.9% 49% 39% — — — 12%Orion StrategiesOrion Strategies August 24–25, 2015 406 ± 4.9% 34% 31% — — — 35%

→ Indicates an internal poll conducted by the West Virginia Republican Party for Bill Cole.

with Booth Goodwin Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BoothGoodwin (D) DavidMcKinley (R) UndecidedHarper PollingHarper Polling April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 35% 40% 25%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BoothGoodwin (D) PatrickMorrisey (R) UndecidedHarper Polling April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 36% 36% 28%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror BoothGoodwin (D) BillCole (R) Other UndecidedMetroNews April 22–May 2, 2016 596 ± 4.0% 47% 39% — 14%Public Policy Polling April 29–May 1, 2016 1,201 ± 2.8% 33% 39% — 28%Orion Strategies February 20–21, 2016 306 ± 5.6% 33% 36% — 31%MetroNews February 11–16, 2016 411 ± 4.9% 43% 44% — 14%Harper PollingHarper Polling April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 35% 37% — 27%

with Jeff Kessler Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JeffKessler (D) DavidMcKinley (R) UndecidedHarper Polling April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 32% 42% 26%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JeffKessler (D) PatrickMorrisey (R) UndecidedHarper Polling April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 35% 38% 27%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JeffKessler (D) BillCole (R) Other UndecidedMetroNews April 22–May 2, 2016 596 ± 4.0% 45% 39% — 16%Public Policy Polling April 29–May 1, 2016 1,201 ± 2.8% 30% 40% — 30%Orion Strategies February 20–21, 2016 306 ± 5.6% 30% 40% — 30%MetroNews February 11–16, 2016 411 ± 4.9% 40% 45% — 15%Orion Strategies August 24–25, 2015 406 ± 4.9% 26% 37% — 37%Harper Polling April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 34% 38% — 28%

with Joe Manchin Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JoeManchin (D) BillCole (R) UndecidedHarper Polling April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 54% 32% 14%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JoeManchin (D) DavidMcKinley (R) UndecidedHarper Polling April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 52% 35% 12%

Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror JoeManchin (D) PatrickMorrisey (R) UndecidedHarper Polling April 9–11, 2015 702 ± 3.7% 58% 29% 13%Global Strategy Group*Global Strategy Group* March 15–18, 2015 600 ± 4.0% 60% 30% 10% * Internal poll for Joe Manchin

Results

By county