# 1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election

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The 1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1972, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Incumbent governor Arch A. Moore, Jr. successfully ran for reelection to a second term. This was the first time a governor was reelected to a second four year term in state history, and the first time a governor had been reelected since 1872.
Both the primaries and general election were held in the aftermath of the Buffalo Creek flood and a movement to abolish strip mining in the state. Democratic nominee Jay Rockefeller campaigned on a proposal to abolish strip mining entirely if elected.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Lee Mountcastle Kenna, Kanawha County Assessor and founder of the Sunrise Museum
* Bobbie Edward Myers, Huntington businessman
* Jay Rockefeller, West Virginia Secretary of State and member of the Rockefeller family

### Results

1972 West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jay Rockefeller | 262,613 | 72.20% |
| | Democratic | Lee M. Kenna | 63,514 | 17.46% |
| | Democratic | Bobbie Edward Myers | 37,616 | 10.34% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 363,743 | 100.00% |

## General election
### Results

1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Arch A. Moore, Jr. (incumbent) | 423,817 | 54.74 |
| | Democratic | Jay Rockefeller | 350,462 | 45.26 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 774,279 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |