2008 United States Senate election in West Virginia
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![]() County results Rockefeller: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Wolfe: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Elections in West Virginia |
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The 2008 United States Senate election in West Virginia was held on November 4. Incumbent Senator Jay Rockefeller won re-election to a fifth term in a landslide, defeating Republican Jay Wolfe by a 27-point margin. Despite this overwhelming win, this remains the last time that a Democrat has won West Virginia's Class 2 U.S. Senate seat. In both of the two subsequent elections for the seat, Republicans have swept every single county.
Background
Before the
The Republicans had gained seven net seats in both the West Virginia Senate and the West Virginia House of Delegates from 2000 to 2008. However, the Democrats still held 60% of the seats in the Senate and 68% of the seats in the House.
Along with continued majorities in the legislature, Democrats had also had other recent victories. Even though both Bush and Capito won their respective offices in 2000, Senator Byrd sailed to an eighth term with 78% of the vote over Republican David Gallaher. Senator
After the Republicans failed to win the governor’s race, West Virginia Republican Committee Chairman Kris Warner, the brother of Monty, was put under pressure to resign his post; he did so in May 2005 [1]. Wheeling attorney Rob Capehart took his place. (Dr. Doug McKinney of Bridgeport now holds the post.) Another brother of Monty, Kasey, who was appointed by President Bush in 2001, was removed as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia on August 1, 2005. No explanation has been given for his departure and U.S. Attorney Lisa G. Johnston currently represents the district.
Democratic primary
Candidates
- Jay Rockefeller
- Sheirl Fletcher
- Billy Hendricks
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jay Rockefeller (incumbent) | 271,370 | 77.1% | |
Democratic | Sheirl Fletcher | 51,073 | 14.5% | |
Democratic | Billy Hendricks | 29,707 | 8.4% | |
Total votes | 352,150 | 100.0% |
Republican primary
Candidates
Results
Wolfe was unopposed for the Republican nomination.
General election
Candidates
- Jay Rockefeller (D), incumbent U.S. Senator
- Jay Wolfe (R), former State Senator
Predictions
Source | Ranking | As of |
---|---|---|
The Cook Political Report[1]
|
Safe D | October 23, 2008 |
CQ Politics[2] | Safe D | October 31, 2008 |
Rothenberg Political Report[3] | Safe D | November 2, 2008 |
Real Clear Politics[4]
|
Safe D | November 4, 2008 |
Polling
Poll Source | Dates administered | Jay Rockefeller (D) |
Jay Wolfe (R) |
---|---|---|---|
Rasmussen Reports | September 24, 2008 | 61% | 33% |
Results
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Jay Rockefeller (incumbent) | 447,560 | 63.74% | +0.63% | |
Republican | Jay Wolfe | 254,629 | 36.26% | -0.63% | |
Total votes | 702,189 | 100.0% | N/A | ||
Democratic hold |
Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic
- Morgan (largest municipality: Berkeley Springs)
See also
References
- ^ "2008 Senate Race ratings for October 23, 2008". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- ^ Race Ratings Chart: Senate Archived October 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine CQ Politics
- ^ "2008 Senate ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
- ^ "2008 RCP Averages & Senate Results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ "U.S. Senate: West Virginia". CNN. November 4, 2008. Retrieved November 4, 2008.
External links
- Elections from the West Virginia Secretary of State
- U.S. Congress candidates for West Virginia at Project Vote Smart
- West Virginia, U.S. Senate from CQ Politics
- West Virginia U.S. Senate from OurCampaigns.com
- West Virginia U.S. Senate race from 2008 Race Tracker
- Campaign contributions from OpenSecrets
- Official campaign websites (Archived)
- Jay Rockefeller, Democratic candidate
- Jay Wolfe, Republican candidate