# 2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election

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The 2012 West Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Democratic incumbent Earl Ray Tomblin, who was elected governor in a special election in 2011, was elected to a full four-year term. The election was a rematch of the 2011 special election.
As of 2025, this was the last gubernatorial election in which a Democratic governor was re-elected in the state.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates

* Arne Moltis, candidate for governor in 2011
* Earl Ray Tomblin, incumbent governor

#### Declined

* Jeff Kessler, state senator, president of the state senate, and candidate for governor in 2011
* Brooks McCabe, state senator

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Earl Ray Tomblin (incumbent) | 170,481 | 84.4% |
| | Democratic | Arne Moltis | 31,587 | 15.6% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 202,068 | 100.0% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates

* Ralph William Clark, philosophy professor at West Virginia University and candidate for governor in 2011
* Bill Maloney, businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011

#### Declined

* Clark Barnes, state senator and candidate for governor in 2011 (did not file)
* Mark Sorsaia, Putnam County prosecutor and candidate for governor in 2011 (did not file)
* Mike Stuart, West Virginia Republican Party chairman

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bill Maloney | 86,925 | 83.5% |
| | Republican | Ralph William Clark | 17,165 | 16.5% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 104,090 | 100.0% |

## General election
### Candidates

* Jesse Johnson (Mountain), former gubernatorial and senate nominee
* Bill Maloney (R), businessman and Republican nominee for governor in 2011
* David Moran (Libertarian), farmer and retired engineer
* Earl Ray Tomblin (D), incumbent governor

### Other potential candidates

* Norman Ferguson (NPA)
* Phil Hudok (Constitution), write-in candidate for governor in 2011

### Debates

* Complete video of debate, October 9, 2012 - C-SPAN

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Lean D | November 1, 2012 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Lean D | November 5, 2012 |
| Rothenberg Political Report | Lean D | November 2, 2012 |
| Real Clear Politics | Likely D | November 5, 2012 |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Earl Ray Tomblin (D) | Bill Maloney (R) | Undecided |
| R.L. Repass | August 22–25, 2012 | 401 | ± 4.9% | 56% | 35% | 9% |
| R.L. Repass | April 25–28, 2012 | 410 | ± 4.8% | 60% | 32% | 8% |

### Results

West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Earl Ray Tomblin (incumbent) | 335,468 | 50.49% | +0.94% |
| | Republican | Bill Maloney | 303,291 | 45.65% | −1.40% |
| | Mountain | Jesse Johnson | 16,787 | 2.53% | +0.51% |
| | Libertarian | David Moran | 8,909 | 1.34% | N/A |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 664,455 | 100.00% | N/A |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

* Calhoun (Largest city: Grantsville)
* Gilmer (Largest city: Glenville)
* Hardy (Largest city: Moorefield)
* Jefferson (Largest city: Charles Town)
* Ohio (largest borough: Wheeling)
* Pendleton (Largest city: Franklin)
* Pocahontas (Largest city: Marlinton)
* Roane (Largest city: Spencer)
* Wirt (largest municipality: Elizabeth)
* Wood (largest municipality: Parkersburg)

#### Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

* Barbour (Largest city: Philippi)
* Mercer (Largest city: Bluefield)
* Raleigh (Largest city: Beckley)

#### By congressional district

Tomblin won 2 of 3 congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.
| District | Tomblin | Maloney | Representative |
| 1st | 47.99% | 48.21% | David McKinley |
| 2nd | 49.4% | 46.19% | Shelley Moore Capito |
| 3rd | 54.43% | 42.25% | Nick Rahall |