2020 West Virginia elections

2020 West Virginia elections

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Elections in West Virginia
Federal government Presidential elections 1864 1868 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Presidential primaries Democratic 2000 2004 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 Republican 2000 2008 2012 2016 2020 2024 U.S. Senate elections 1863 1865 1871 1877 1877 sp 1882 1883 1887 1888 1889 1892 1893 1893 sp 1895 1899 1901 1905 1907 1911 1911 sp 1913 1916 1918 1922 1924 1928 1930 1934 1936 1940 1942 1942 sp 1946 1948 1952 1954 1956 sp 1958 1958 sp 1960 1964 1966 1970 1972 1976 1978 1982 1984 1988 1990 1994 1996 2000 2002 2006 2008 2010 sp 2012 2014 2018 2020 2024 2026 U.S. House of Representatives elections 1863 1864 1866 1868 1870 1872 1874 1876 1878 1880 1882 1883 3rd sp 1884 1886 1888 1890 1892 1894 1896 1898 1900 1902 1904 1905 2nd sp 1906 1908 1910 1912 1913 1st sp 1914 1916 2nd sp 1918 1920 1922 1924 1926 1928 1930 1932 1933 3rd sp 1934 1936 1938 1940 1942 1944 1946 1948 1950 1951 5th sp 1952 1954 1956 1958 1960 1962 1964 1966 1968 1970 1972 1974 1976 1978 1980 3rd sp 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
State government General elections 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 Gubernatorial elections 1863 1864 1866 1868 1870 1872 1876 1880 1884 1888 1892 1896 1900 1904 1908 1912 1916 1920 1924 1928 1932 1936 1940 1944 1948 1952 1956 1960 1964 1968 1972 1976 1980 1984 1988 1992 1996 2000 2004 2008 2011 sp 2012 2016 2020 2024 Attorney General elections 2012 2016 2020 2024 Secretary of State elections 2012 2016 2020 2024 Auditor elections 2012 2016 2020 2024 Treasurer elections 2012 2016 2020 2024 Senate elections 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024 House of Delegates elections 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2024
Local government Charleston (mayoral elections) 2022 Huntington (municipal elections) 2020 2024 Wheeling (municipal elections) 2020 2024
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West Virginia held elections on November 3, 2020. The Democratic and Republican party primary elections were held on June 9, 2020.

The 2020 elections marked a turning point in history as West Virginia's rightward shift was further signified: Republicans won all U.S. House seats, statewide executive offices and the U.S. Senate seat up for election (all with more than 56% of the vote) while also expanding their majorities in both state legislative chambers. President Donald Trump won every county in the state and 68.62% of the statewide vote in his re-election bid, for a statewide margin of 38.93%, although losing re-election.

Incumbent Republican Donald Trump easily carried West Virginia, capturing 68.62% of the vote. Trump captured every county in the state and it was his second-best showing, behind only Wyoming.

Incumbent senator Shelley Moore Capito was easily reelected. With a vote share of 70.3%, she was the first Republican senator to win reelection in West Virginia since 1907.

All 3 Incumbent Republican U.S. Representatives were easily reelected, all increasing their vote share compared to 2018.

Incumbent Republican governor Jim Justice won reelection to a second term over Democrat Ben Salango with 64.8% of the vote. Justice increased his vote margin substantially compared with his first election in 2016, when he was the democratic candidate, receiving just 49.1% of the overall vote. This was the first time a Republican candidate carried every county in the state during a gubernatorial election.

17 of the 34 seats in the West Virginia State Senate held elections, including 11 Republican-held seats and 6 Democratic-held seats. Four incumbents chose not to seek re-election due to retirement: Democrats Paul Hardesty, Roman Prezioso, and Corey Palumbo and Republican Kenny Mann. Republicans won 3 seats over Democratic candidates, increasing their majority in the chamber from 20 to 23 seats.^[1][2]

All 100 seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates will have an election. Nineteen incumbents chose not to seek re-election: 11 Democrats and 8 Republicans. Republicans flipped 18 seats, increasing their majority in the chamber from 58 to 76 seats.^[3][4]

2020 West Virginia Attorney General election

← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →

Nominee Patrick Morrisey Sam Petsonk Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 487,250 276,798 Percentage 63.77% 36.23%

County results Precinct results Morrisey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Petsonk:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      50%

Attorney General before election Darrell McGraw Democratic Elected Attorney General Patrick Morrisey Republican

Republican incumbent Patrick Morrisey was re-elected with 51.63% of the vote in 2016 and successfully sought re-election.^[5]

• Patrick Morrisey, incumbent attorney general of West Virginia and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018^[6]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Patrick Morrisey (incumbent)	175,837	100.0%
Total votes			175,837	100.0%

• Sam Petsonk, attorney^[7]
• Isaac Sponaugle, state delegate^[8]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sam Petsonk	86,849	50.0%
	Democratic	Isaac Sponaugle	86,704	50.0%
Total votes			173,553	100.0%

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Patrick Morrisey (R)	Sam Petsonk (D)	Undecided
Triton Polling and Research/WMOV[9]	October 19–21, 2020	544 (LV)	± 4.2%	53%	41%	6%
Triton Polling & Research/WMOV[10]	September 29–30, 2020[b]	525 (RV)	± 4.3%	53%	41%	6%

General election results^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Patrick Morrisey (incumbent)	487,250	63.77%
	Democratic	Sam Petsonk	276,798	36.23%
Total votes			764,048	100.0%

2020 West Virginia Secretary of State election^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mac Warner (incumbent)	447,537	58.26%
	Democratic	Natalie Tennant	320,650	41.74%
Total votes			768,187	100.0%

Democratic incumbent John Perdue was re-elected with 50.33% of the vote in 2016, but lost re-election to Republican candidate Riley Moore.^[12]

2020 West Virginia State Treasurer election^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Riley Moore	425,745	56.31%
	Democratic	John Perdue (incumbent)	330,316	43.69%
Total votes			756,061	100.0%
	Republican gain from Democratic

2020 West Virginia State Auditor election

← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →

Nominee JB McCuskey Mary Ann Claytor Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 496,845 244,427 Percentage 67.03% 32.97%

County results Precinct results McCuskey:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Claytor:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      50%

State Auditor before election JB McCuskey Republican Elected State Auditor JB McCuskey Republican

Republican incumbent JB McCuskey was elected with 58.48% of the vote in 2016 and successfully sought re-election.^[14]

• JB McCuskey, incumbent West Virginia State Auditor

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	JB McCuskey (incumbent)	169,577	100.0%
Total votes			169,577	100.0%

• Mary Ann Claytor, accountant and auditor, nominee for West Virginia State Auditor in 2016, candidate for West Virginia State Senate in 2018, and former candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2020^[15]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mary Ann Claytor	156,089	100.0%
Total votes			156,089	100.0%

General election results^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	JB McCuskey (incumbent)	496,845	67.03%
	Democratic	Mary Ann Claytor	244,427	32.97%
Total votes			741,272	100.0%

2020 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election

← 2016 November 3, 2020 2024 →

Nominee Kent Leonhardt Bob Beach Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 480,386 258,912 Percentage 64.98% 35.02%

County results Precinct results Leonhardt:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Beach:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Tie:      50%

Secretary of State before election Kent Leonhardt Republican Elected Secretary of State Kent Leonhardt Republican

Republican incumbent Kent Leonhardt was elected with 48.41% of the vote in 2016 and successfully sought re-election.^[16]

• Kent Leonhardt, incumbent West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture
• Roy Ramey, farm owner and American Freedom nominee for West Virginia State Senate in 2014^[17][18]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kent Leonhardt (incumbent)	113,586	63.5%
	Republican	Roy Ramey	65,336	36.5%
Total votes			178,922	100.0%

• Bob Beach, state senator^[19]
• William Keplinger, farmer and businessman^[20]
• Dave Miller, farmer^[21]

• Patricia Bunner, attorney^[22]

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bob Beach	81,074	48.0%
	Democratic	William Keplinger	44,084	26.1%
	Democratic	Dave Miller	43,916	26.0%
Total votes			169,074	100.0%

General election results^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kent Leonhardt (incumbent)	480,386	64.98%
	Democratic	Bob Beach	258,912	35.02%
Total votes			739,298	100.0%

The incumbent was Tim Armstead, who was appointed to the court to replace Justice Menis Ketchum, who resigned from the court shortly before being convicted on a felony fraud charge. Armstead then won a 2018 special election to serve the remainder of Ketchum's term with 26.1% of the vote. He successfully won re-election to a full term.^[23][24]

• Tim Armstead, incumbent justice and chief justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals^[24]
• David Hummel Jr., circuit court judge on the Second West Virginia Circuit Court^[25]
• Richard Neely, former chief justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals^[26]

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	Tim Armstead (incumbent)	151,755	41.0%
	Nonpartisan	Richard Neely	132,069	35.7%
	Nonpartisan	David Hummel Jr.	86,112	23.3%
Total votes			369,936	100.0%

The incumbent Margaret Workman, did not seek re-election after controversies and the threat of possible impeachment. Bill Wooton, a former state senator, was elected with 31.0% of the vote.^[23][27]

• Jim Douglas, family court judge on the Eleventh West Virginia Circuit Court^[28]
• Kris Raynes, Putnam County assistant prosecuting attorney^[29]
• Joanna Tabit, circuit court judge on the Thirteenth West Virginia Circuit Court^[30]
• William R. Wooton, former state senator and candidate for the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals in 2016^[31]

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	William R. Wooton	115,668	31.0%
	Nonpartisan	Joanna Tabit	108,952	29.2%
	Nonpartisan	Kris Raynes	74,334	19.9%
	Nonpartisan	Jim Douglas	73,843	19.8%
Total votes			372,797	100.0%

The incumbent was John A. Hutchison, who was appointed to the court to replace justice Allen Loughry, who resigned from the court in the midst of his impeachment trial. Hutchison successfully sought re-election to serve the remainder of Loughry's term.^[23][32][33]

• Lora Dyer, circuit court judge on the Fifth West Virginia Circuit Court^[34]
• John A. Hutchison, incumbent justice and former circuit court judge^[32]
• William Schwartz, attorney^[35]

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Nonpartisan	John A. Hutchison (incumbent)	137,681	39.2%
	Nonpartisan	Lora Dyer	124,939	31.0%
	Nonpartisan	William Schwartz	88,369	25.6%
Total votes			350,989	100.0%

• Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association, "West Virginia", Voting & Elections Toolkits
• "West Virginia: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links", Vote.org, Oakland, CA
• "League of Women Voters of West Virginia". (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
• West Virginia at Ballotpedia
• "Election Guides: West Virginia", Spreadthevote.org, archived from the original on October 4, 2020, retrieved October 7, 2020. (Guidance to help voters get to the polls; addresses transport, childcare, work, information challenges)
• "State Elections Legislation Database", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures, State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year, 2020

Official campaign websites for Attorney General

• Patrick Morrisey (R) for Attorney General Archived May 12, 2018, at the Wayback Machine
• Sam Petsonk (D) for Attorney General Archived May 23, 2020, at the Wayback Machine

Official campaign websites for Secretary of State

• Natalie Tennant (D) for Secretary of State
• Mac Warner (R) for Secretary of State

Official campaign websites for Treasurer

• Riley Moore (R) for Treasurer
• John Perdue (D) for Treasurer

Official campaign websites for Auditor

• Mary Ann Claytor (D) for Auditor Archived June 19, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
• JB McCuskey (R) for Auditor

Official campaign websites for Commissioner of Agriculture

• Bob Beach (D) for Commissioner
• Kent Leonhardt (R) for Commissioner