2020 West Virginia Elections

West Virginia held elections on November 3, 2020. Elections for the United States Senate and House, as well as for several statewide offices including the governorship were held. These elections were held concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election and other elections nationwide. The Democratic and Republican party primary elections were held on June 9, 2020.

Federal offices

President

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 Wyoming.

Senate

Incumbent Republican 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.

House of Representatives

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

Governor

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.

State Legislature

State Senate

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.

House of Delegates

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.

Attorney General

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

Republican primary

Candidates

* Patrick Morrisey, incumbent Attorney General of West Virginia and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018

Democratic primary

Candidates

* Sam Petsonk, attorney
* Isaac Sponaugle, state delegate

Polling

General election

Secretary of State

Republican incumbent Mac Warner was elected with 48.52% of the vote in 2016, and successfully sought re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

* Mac Warner, incumbent Secretary of State of West Virginia

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* Tyrin Smith-Holmes of Huntington

Democratic primary

Candidates

* Natalie Tennant, former Secretary of State, candidate for Governor of West Virginia in 2011, and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2014

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* Brent Pauley, journalist at EnAct West Virginia

Polling

General election

Treasurer

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

Democratic primary

Candidates

* John Perdue, incumbent West Virginia State Treasurer and candidate for Governor of West Virginia in 2011

Republican primary

Candidates

* Riley Moore, former state delegate

Polling

General election

Auditor

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

Republican primary

Candidates

* JB McCuskey, incumbent West Virginia State Auditor

Democratic primary

Candidates

* 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

General election

Commissioner of Agriculture

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

Republican primary

Candidates

* Kent Leonhardt, incumbent West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture
* Roy Ramey, farm owner and American Freedom nominee for West Virginia State Senate in 2014

Democratic primary

Candidates

* Bob Beach, state senator
* William Keplinger, farmer and businessman
* Dave Miller, farmer

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* Patricia Bunner, attorney

General election

Supreme Court of Appeals

Division 1

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.

Candidates

* Tim Armstead, incumbent Justice and Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals
* David Hummel Jr., circuit court judge on the Second West Virginia Circuit Court
* Richard Neely, former Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals

Division 2

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.

Candidates

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

Division 3

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.https://ballotpedia.org/John_A._Hutchinson

Candidates

* Lora Dyer, circuit court judge on the Fifth West Virginia Circuit Court
* John A. Hutchison, incumbent Justice and former circuit court judge
* William Schwartz, attorney

Notes

References

External links

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* (State affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
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* . (Guidance to help voters get to the polls; addresses transport, childcare, work, information challenges)
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;Official campaign websites for Attorney General

Patrick Morrisey (R) for Attorney General


Sam Petsonk (D) for Attorney General

;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


JB McCuskey (R) for Auditor

;Official campaign websites for Commissioner of Agriculture

Bob Beach (D) for Commissioner

Kent Leonhardt (R) for Commissioner

{{2020 United States elections

West Virginia judicial elections
West Virginia