The 2018 United States Senate election in West Virginia took place on November 6, 2018, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of West Virginia, concurrently with other elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic Senator Joe Manchin won re-election to a second full term against Republican Patrick Morrisey, who at the time of the 2018 elections had been West Virginia's State Attorney General since 2013. This was one of ten Democratic-held Senate seats up for election in a state won by Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election. Morrisey conceded on election night.
Manchin was considered to be among the most vulnerable Democratic senators facing re-election in 2018 due to the state's deepening partisan lean and his declining popularity. He ultimately won a second full term, though by a much narrower margin of 3.33% compared to his 2012 landslide, losing 28 counties he won in 2012 and outperforming the margins of defeat from both Barack Obama in 2012 and Hillary Clinton in 2016 by more than 40%.
As of , this is the last time that a Democrat won a congressional or statewide election in West Virginia, the last West Virginia U.S. Senate race where the winner did not win every county, the only general election defeat of Morrisey's career, and the last West Virginia U.S. Senate race where the winner received less than 68% of votes. Following his defeat in this election, Morrisey continued to serve as West Virginia's state attorney general until he won the 2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election and took office as the state's governor on January 13, 2025.
Background
West Virginia has not voted for a Democratic presidential nominee since 1996. The last presidential race where the Republican nominee did not win every county in West Virginia was in 2008. From 1959 to 2015, West Virginia was exclusively represented in the U.S. Senate by Democrats.
Manchin was first elected to the U.S. Senate in a 2010 special election, defeating Republican challenger John Raese. Manchin defeated Raese a second time in 2012 to win his first full term in the Senate, receiving more than 60% of the vote and carrying all but three counties.
In 2016, Donald Trump won the state by a greater than 40-point margin over Hillary Clinton (68–26%), with Clinton's performance being the worst for either party in the state's history. Trump also won every county in the state.
Concurrent with Trump's landslide 2016 victory in West Virginia, Democratic businessman Jim Justice won the gubernatorial election with 49% of the vote but changed his party affiliation back to Republican within a year (Justice had previously been a Republican prior to running as a Democrat for governor). Democrats lost almost every statewide office in the state in 2016, with State Treasurer John Perdue being the only statewide Democrat re-elected.
Because of the heavy Republican lean of his state, Manchin was ranked by many outlets as one of the most vulnerable incumbents up for reelection. President Trump headlined three rallies in the state on behalf of Manchin's opponent Patrick Morrisey. Manchin's vote to confirm Judge Brett Kavanaugh in his highly contentious confirmation hearing, making him the only Democrat to do so, garnered national attention and backlash from members of his own party just weeks before the midterm elections. Despite the challenges to his re-election, Manchin leaned into his close personal ties to the state and emphasized his moderate to conservative views.
Although Manchin was seen as vulnerable during the lead-up to the election, polling considered him to be a slight favorite for most of the general election cycle.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Joe Manchin, incumbent U.S. senator
Eliminated in primary Paula Jean Swearengin, social and environmental activist
Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered JoeManchin Paula JeanSwearengin UndecidedSurveyMonkey (D-Swearengin) September 2017 46% 8% 38% Campaign finance reports as of September 30, 2018Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handJoe Manchin (D)$8,872,162$6,459,930$4,200,530Paula Jean Swearengin (D)$219,707$190,099$29,608Source: Federal Election Commission
Results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Patrick Morrisey, attorney general of West Virginia
Eliminated in primary Don Blankenship, former chairman and CEO of Massey Energy Bo Copley, coal miner Evan Jenkins, U.S. representative for West Virginia's 3rd congressional district (2015–2018) Jack Newbrough, truck driver and navy veteran Tom Willis, Army veteran
Declined Ryan Ferns, majority leader of the West Virginia Senate (running for re-election) David McKinley, U.S. representative for West Virginia's 1st congressional district (2011–2023) (running for re-election) Alex Mooney, U.S. representative for West Virginia's 2nd congressional district (2015–2025) (ran for re-election)
Endorsements
Debates + Hostnetwork Date Link(s) ParticipantsEvanJenkinsPatrickMorriseyDonBlankenshipBoCopleyJackNewbroughTomWillis Fox News May 1, 2018 Invited Invited Invited – – – WVPB April 23, 2018 Invited Invited Invited Invited Invited Invited
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error DonBlankenship EvanJenkins PatrickMorrisey Other UndecidedPublic Opinion Strategies (R-Morrisey) April 22–23, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 15% 26% 28% – 18%Fox News April 18–22, 2018 985 ± 3.0% 16% 25% 21% 8%Tom Willis with 4 percent, Bo Copley with 2 percent, and Jack Newbrough with 1 percent 24%National Research Inc. (R-GOPAC) April 17–19, 2018 411 ± 4.9% 12% 20% 24% 5%Tom Willis with 3 percent, Bo Copley and Jack Newbrough with 1 percent 39%Osage Research (R-Morrisey) March 13, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 23% 17% 24% 4%Bo Copley with 2.5 percent, Tom Willis with 1.4 percent, and Jack Newbrough with "an unregistered amount" –Harper Polling (R-Jenkins) March 5–6, 2018 400 – 27% 29% 19% 10%Tom Willis and Jack Newbrough with 4 percent; Bo Copley with 2 percent 15%Harper Polling (R-Jenkins) February 5–6, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 18% 33% 25% 12% 12% – 42% 36% – 22%Fabrizio, Lee and Associates (R-35th PAC) October 19–22, 2017 400 ± 4.9% – 34% 40% – 26%
Results
Libertarian Party Candidates Nominated
Rusty Hollen
Constitution Party Candidates Denied ballot access Don Blankenship, former chairman and CEO of Massey Energy. Observers noted that he would be ineligible to run due to West Virginia's sore-loser law which states that the loser of a partisan primary election cannot appear on the ballot as an independent or with another political party in the general election. Blankenship was eligible to run as a write-in candidate. Secretary of State Mac Warner denied ballot access to Blankenship's campaign on July 26, citing West Virginia's "sore loser" law. After a lawsuit, the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia ordered Warner to deny Blankenship ballot access on August 29, 2018.
Endorsements
General election Candidates Mark Brazaitis (Independent, write-in), author and deputy mayor of Morgantown, West Virginia
Predictions SourceRankingAs ofThe Cook Political Report October 26, 2018Inside Elections November 1, 2018Sabato's Crystal BallNovember 5, 2018CNNNovember 5, 2018RealClearPoliticsNovember 5, 2018Daily KosNovember 5, 2018Fox NewsNovember 5, 2018FiveThirtyEightNovember 6, 2018
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of September 30, 2018Candidate (party)Total receiptsTotal disbursementsCash on handJoe Manchin (D)$8,872,162$6,459,930$4,200,530Patrick Morrisey (R)$4,943,056$3,315,300$1,627,756Source: Federal Election Commission
Polling
Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeManchin (D) PatrickMorrisey (R) RustyHollen (L) Other UndecidedEmerson College October 28–31, 2018 1,013 ± 3.2% 47% 42% 3% – 8%Research America Inc. October 19–30, 2018 400 ± 4.9% 45% 40% 11% – 5%Strategic Research Associates October 12–19, 2018 650 ± 3.8% 52% 36% 4% – 8%Fabrizio, Lee and Associates (R-NRSC) October 16–18, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 42% 44% 3% – 12% 45% 47% – – 8%Vox Populi Polling October 13–15, 2018 789 ± 3.5% 53% 47% – – –The Polling Company (R-Citizens United) October 11–13, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 49% 45% – 2% 3%Public Opinion Strategies (R-NRSC) October 7–9, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 41% 40% 8% – –Strategic Research Associates September 17–26, 2018 650 ± 3.8% 46% 38% 3% – 13%1892 Polling (R-Morrisey) September 24–25, 2018 500 ± 4.4% 45% 45% – – 10%The Tarrance Group (R-SLF) September 23–25, 2018 612 ± 4.1% 47% 43% 5% – 5%Global Strategy Group (D-Manchin) September 19–23, 2018 601 ± 4.0% 48% 36% 4% – –Emerson College September 13–15, 2018 825 ± 3.5% 45% 33% – 6% 16%Harper Polling (R-35th PAC) August 23–26, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 47% 41% – – 12%Research America Inc. August 16–26, 2018 404 ± 4.9% 46% 38% – – 16%Trafalgar Group (R) July 13–16, 2018 1,158 ± 2.9% 50% 40% 2% – 8%SurveyMonkey/Axios June 11 – July 2, 2018 892 ± 5.5% 53% 40% – – 6%Monmouth University June 14–19, 2018 653 ± 3.8% 49% 42% – 3% 6%Public Policy Polling June 12–13, 2018 633 – 49% 42% – – 9%Hart Research Associates (D-DSCC) May 15–16, 2018 602 ± 4.0% 52% 40% – – –Global Strategy Group (D-Manchin) May 13–16, 2018 600 ± 4.0% 50% 42% – – – 47% 40% 4% – –WPA Intelligence (R) May 10, 2018 400 ± 4.9% 44% 46% – – 11%Zogby Analytics September 27–30, 2017 320 ± 5.5% 45% 38% – – 17%Research America Inc. August 11–20, 2017 400 ± 4.9% 51% 37% – – 12%Harper Polling November 16–17, 2016 500 ± 4.4% 57% 35% – – 8%
with Don Blankenship Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error JoeManchin (D) PatrickMorrisey (R) Don Other UndecidedResearch America Inc. August 16–26, 2018 404 ± 4.9% 45% 34% 8% – 13%Monmouth University June 14–19, 2018 653 ± 3.8% 48% 39% 4% 2% 6%Public Policy Polling June 12–13, 2018 633 – 46% 35% 11% – 7%Gravis Marketing May 22, 2018 543 ± 4.2% 51% 39% 5% – –
with generic Republican {| class="wikitable" |- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s)administered ! Samplesize ! Marginof error ! style="width:100px;"| JoeManchin (D) ! style="width:100px;"| GenericRepublican ! Undecided |- |National Research Inc. (R-GOPAC) | align=center| April 17–19, 2018 | align=center| – | align=center| – | align=center| 37% | align=center| 41% | align=center| 20% |- |SurveyMonkey/Axios | align=center| February 12 – March 5, 2018 | align=center| 1,591 | align=center| ± 3.5% | align=center| 43% | align=center| 52% | align=center| 5%
with Evan Jenkins {| class="wikitable" |- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s)administered ! Samplesize ! Marginof error ! style="width:100px;"| JoeManchin (D) ! style="width:100px;"| EvanJenkins (R) ! Undecided |- |Zogby Analytics | align=center| September 27–30, 2017 | align=center| 320 | align=center| ± 5.5% | align=center| 49% | align=center| 36% | align=center| 15% |- |Research America Inc. | align=center| August 11–20, 2017 | align=center| 400 | align=center| ± 4.9% | align=center| 50% | align=center| 40% | align=center| 10% |- |Harper Polling | align=center| November 16–17, 2016 | align=center| 500 | align=center| ± 4.4% | align=center| 51% | align=center| 39% | align=center| 10%
with Alex Mooney {| class="wikitable" |- valign=bottom ! Poll source ! Date(s)administered ! Samplesize ! Marginof error ! style="width:100px;"| JoeManchin (D) ! style="width:100px;"| AlexMooney (R) ! Undecided |- |Zogby Analytics | align=center| September 27–30, 2017 | align=center| 320 | align=center| ± 5.5% | align=center| 49% | align=center| 35% | align=center| 17% |- |Harper Polling | align=center| November 16–17, 2016 | align=center| 500 | align=center| ± 4.4% | align=center| 58% | align=center| 28% | align=center| 14%
with David McKinley