# 2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election

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2024 :
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vte :
The 2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the governor of West Virginia, concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Republican state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey was elected to his first term in office after defeating Democratic Huntington mayor Steve Williams in the general election. Incumbent Republican Jim Justice was term-limited and was unable to seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office; he instead ran for the U.S. Senate.
First elected in 2016 as a Democrat by 6.8 percentage points, Justice switched parties in August 2017 and won re-election in 2020 as a Republican by 33.3 percentage points. Primary elections took place on May 14, 2024. This is the first time since 1972 that Republicans won consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state. However, Morrisey performed worse than Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who outperformed Morrisey by 7.98 percentage points. Additionally, Williams outperformed Kamala Harris by 3.48 percentage points.

## Background

A conservative rural southeastern state, West Virginia is considered extremely Republican at the federal and state levels; Republicans hold all statewide executive offices and supermajorities in both state legislative houses, and from 2015 until he became an Independent in 2024, Senator Joe Manchin had been the state's only congressional Democrat. In the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump carried West Virginia by 38.93 percentage points.
With Jim Justice term-limited and unable to run for a third consecutive term as Governor, the Republican primary was expected to be competitive and crowded. Most analysts considered Republicans to be a heavy favorite, given the state's partisan lean and the margin from the previous election.

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Patrick Morrisey, West Virginia Attorney General (2013–2025) and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018

#### Eliminated in primary

* Moore Capito, former state delegate (2016–2023), grandson of former governor Arch Moore, and son of U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito
* Kevin Christian, electrical engineer
* Chris Miller, automobile dealer and son of U.S. Representative Carol Miller
* Mitch Roberts, store manager and write-in candidate for governor in 2020
* Mac Warner, West Virginia Secretary of State (2017–2025)

#### Withdrew

* J.B. McCuskey, West Virginia State Auditor (2017–2025) (ran for attorney general)

#### Declined

* Kent Leonhardt, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture (2017–present) (ran for re-election)
* Riley Moore, West Virginia State Treasurer (2021–2025) and grandson of former governor Arch Moore (ran for U.S. House)

### Endorsements

Federal politicians
* Shelley Moore Capito, U.S. Senator from West Virginia (2015–present) (candidate's mother)
Statewide politicians
* Jim Justice, Governor of West Virginia (2017–2025)
Newspapers
* The Exponent Telegram
Individuals
* Bob Huggins, former basketball coach
Individuals
* David Bossie, president of Citizens United
* Vivek Ramaswamy, entrepreneur and former candidate for President in 2024
Organizations
* Americans for Prosperity
* Citizens United PVF
* Club for Growth
* National Association for Gun Rights PAC
* NRA Political Victory Fund
* West Virginia Coal Association
* West Virginia Sheriff's Association

### Debates

2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election Republican primary debates :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican |
| P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | | | | |
| P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | P Participant A Absent N Non-invitee I Invitee W Withdrawn | Morrisey | Capito | Miller | Warner |
| 1 | Dec. 8, 2023 | MetroNews | Hoppy Kercheval | YouTube | A | P | P | P |
| 2 | Feb. 29, 2024 | | Hoppy Kercheval | YouTube | P | P | P | P |
| 3 | Apr. 30, 2024 | WSAZ-3 | | WSAZ-3 | P | P | P | P |

### Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of April 28, 2024 :
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Patrick Morrisey (R) | $3,624,343 | $3,078,086 | $695,276 |
| Moore Capito (R) | $2,131,285 | $1,519,377 | $599,354 |
| Chris Miller (R) | $1,615,788 | $6,175,751 | $519,538 |
| Mac Warner (R) | $559,038 | $372,948 | $172,787 |
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State ||||

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Moore Capito | Chris Miller | Patrick Morrisey | Mac Warner | Other | Undecided |
| Emerson College | May 2–5, 2024 | 558 (LV) | ± 4.1% | 29% | 21% | 33% | 15% | 3% | – |
| Research America | April 24 – May 1, 2024 | 407 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 24% | 25% | 32% | 10% | 3% | 6% |
| NMB Research | April 20–22, 2024 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 31% | 14% | 23% | 13% | – | 18% |
| Research America | April 3–9, 2024 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 29% | 16% | 31% | 12% | 3% | 10% |
| WPA Intelligence | April 1–3, 2024 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 20% | 19% | 37% | 14% | – | 9% |
| Emerson College | March 19–21, 2024 | 735 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 14% | 16% | 33% | 6% | – | 29% |
| WPA Intelligence | November 27–29, 2023 | 507 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 23% | 10% | 39% | 14% | – | 14% |
| American Pulse Research & Polling (R) | November 13–14, 2023 | 414 (LV) | ± 4.8% | 23% | 10% | 31% | 14% | – | 23% |
| CAMP | November 10–12, 2023 | 863 (LV) | ± 3.26% | 18% | 11% | 24% | 21% | 5% | 21% |
| Orion Strategies | June 17–20, 2023 | 651 (LV) | ± 6.0% | 30% | 5% | 31% | 9% | 8% | 17% |
| National Research Inc. | February 23–28, 2023 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 15% | 6% | 28% | 11% | 6% | 29% |

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Patrick Morrisey | 75,111 | 33.28% |
| | Republican | Moore Capito | 62,181 | 27.55% |
| | Republican | Chris Miller | 46,010 | 20.39% |
| | Republican | Mac Warner | 36,170 | 16.03% |
| | Republican | Mitch Roberts | 3,138 | 1.39% |
| | Republican | Kevin Christian | 3,088 | 1.37% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 225,698 | 100.00% |

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Steve Williams, mayor of Huntington (2013–2025) and former state delegate (1986–1994)

#### Declined

* Joe Manchin, U.S. Senator (2010–2025) and former governor (2005–2010)
* Ben Salango, Kanawha County commissioner and nominee for governor in 2020

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Williams | 89,545 | 100.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 89,545 | 100.00% |

## Other candidates
### Mountain Party
#### Nominee

* Chase Linko-Looper, U.S. Army veteran

### Libertarian Party
#### Nominee

* Erika Kolenich, attorney and nominee for governor in 2020

### Constitution Party
#### Nominee

* S. Marshall Wilson, former Republican state delegate (2016–2020) and write-in candidate for governor in 2020

### Independents
#### Declined

* Joe Manchin, U.S. Senator (2010–2025) and former governor (2005–2010) (endorsed Williams)

## General election
### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Solid R | June 13, 2024 |
| Inside Elections | Solid R | July 14, 2023 |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe R | June 4, 2024 |
| RCP | Solid R | July 13, 2024 |
| Elections Daily | Safe R | July 12, 2023 |
| CNalysis | Solid R | August 17, 2024 |

### Post-primary endorsements

Federal officials
* Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States (2017–2021)
Federal officials
* Joe Manchin, U.S. Senator (2010–2025) and former governor (2005–2010)

### Debates

2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Democratic |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Morrisey | Williams |
| 1 | Oct. 29, 2024 | MetroNews | Hoppy Kercheval | C-SPAN | P | P |

### Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of October 25, 2024 :
| Candidate | Raised | Spent | Cash on hand |
| Patrick Morrisey (R) | $6,824,464 | $6,183,264 | $1,351,895 |
| Steve Williams (D) | $250,255 | $92,274 | $156,426 |
| Source: West Virginia Secretary of State ||||

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Patrick Morrisey (R) | Steve Williams (D) | Undecided |
| Research America | August 21–27, 2024 | 400 (RV) | ± 4.9% | 49% | 35% | 16% |
Patrick Morrisey vs. Joe Manchin vs. Steve Williams
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Patrick Morrisey (R) | Joe Manchin (I) | Steve Williams (D) | Other | Undecided |
| Kaplan Strategies | June 4, 2024 | 464 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 34% | 26% | 21% | 1% | 18% |

### Results

* Democratic—+>15%  Democratic—+12.5-15%  Democratic—+10-12.5%  Democratic—+7.5-10%  Democratic—+5-7.5%  Democratic—+2.5-5%  Democratic—+<2.5%  Republican—+<2.5%  Republican—+2.5-5%  Republican—+5-7.5%  Republican—+7.5-10%
2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Patrick Morrisey | 459,300 | 61.99% | 1.50% |
| | Democratic | Steve Williams | 233,976 | 31.58% | 1.36% |
| | Libertarian | Erika Kolenich | 21,228 | 2.87% | |
| | Constitution | S. Marshall Wilson | 16,828 | 2.27% | N/A |
| | Mountain | Chase Linko-Looper | 9,596 | 1.30% | 0.14% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 10 | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 740,938 | 100.00% | N/A |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

#### By congressional district

Morrisey won both congressional districts.
| District | Morrisey | Williams | Representative |
| 1st | 60% | 34% | Carol Miller |
| 2nd | 63% | 30% | Alex Mooney (118th Congress) |
| 2nd | 63% | 30% | Riley Moore (119th Congress) |