West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2004

The 2004 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 2 2004 for the post of Governor of West Virginia. Democratic Secretary of State Joe Manchin defeated Republican Monty Warner.

Democratic primary

Democratic governor Bob Wise became the first governor of West Virginia not to stand for re-election since the Constitution of West Virginia was amended in 1970 to permit two consecutive terms.cite web| url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/elections/2004/wv/ | title = West Virginia election results 2004 | accessdate = 2008-05-16 | date = 2004-11-24| publisher = "The Washington Post"] In August 2003 he announced that he would not stand again after admitting to an affair with a state employee.cite web| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/2003-08-13-governors_x.htm | title = More governors join exodus from statehouses | accessdate = 2008-05-16 | date = 2003-08-13| publisher = "USA Today"]

West Virginia Secretary of State Joe Manchin challenged Wise for the Democratic nomination, and after Wise withdrew from the race he became favorite for the primary.cite web| url = http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/comment-leroy062403.asp | title = Not So Wise | accessdate = 2008-05-16 | date = 2003-06-24| publisher = "The Washington Post"] Manchin lined up support from various sources including labour leaders in order to reverse his defeat in the gubernatorial primary in 1996. His main opponent in the primary was former State Senator Lloyd Jackson, who launched his campaign with a plan to reduce insurance costs.cite web| url = http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=70997&format=html | title = Jackson files for governor in West Virginia | accessdate = 2008-05-17 | date = 2004-01-13| publisher = "Herald Mail"] In the run up to the primary the two candidates traded negative advertising but Manchin won an easy victory in the primary on May 11.cite web| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/state/2004-05-12-west-virginia-primary_x.htm | title = Manchin wins W. Va. gubernatorial nod | accessdate = 2008-05-17 | date = 2004-05-12| publisher = "USA Today"]

Source: [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=54&year=2004&f=0&off=5&elect=1 2004 Gubernatorial Democratic Primary Election Results - West Virginia]

Republican primary

The Republican primary saw 10 candidates competing for the nomination. Six of the candidates met in a debate in March 2004, in which they agreed on the need to reduce the size of the West Virginia state government.cite web| url = http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=76032&format=html | title = Governor hopefuls take part in debate | accessdate = 2008-05-17 | date = 2004-03-26| publisher = "Herald Mail"] It saw a close race between three main candidates: Monty Warner, a retired army colonel and developer, Rob Capehart, a former state tax secretary, and Dan Moore, a former banker and car dealer. A poll conducted during the lead-up to the primary showed the three candidates virtually even.cite web| url = http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119639,00.html | title = Candidates Face Off in W.Va. Primary | accessdate = 2008-05-17 | date = 2004-05-11| publisher = "Fox News Channel"] Warner won a narrow victory in the primary over Moore and Capehart.cite web| url = http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/state/westvirginia/2004-05-12-west-virginia-primary_x.htm | title = Manchin, Warner win West Virginia primaries | accessdate = 2008-05-17 | date = 2004-05-12| publisher = "USA Today"]

Source: [http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/state.php?fips=54&year=2004&f=0&off=5&elect=2 2004 Gubernatorial Republican Primary Election Results - West Virginia]

Campaign

Early in the campaign, Warner called for Manchin, as a centrist Democrat, to endorse President George W. Bush for re-election over his Democratic rival John Kerry.cite web| url = http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=purple_people_watch_052604 | title = Purple People Watch | accessdate = 2008-05-17 | date = 2004-05-26| publisher = "The American Prospect"] Manchin's campaign spokesperson responded that Manchin backed "the Democratic nominee".

The two main candidates faced each other in three debates and one town hall meeting. Jesse Johnson, the Mountain Party candidate, unsucessfully attempted to get the West Virginia Supreme Court to cancel the first debate, as he was not asked to take part.cite web| url = http://www.wtap.com/news/headlines/1081571.html | title = Candidates Face Off in WV Gubernatorial Debate | accessdate = 2008-05-17 | date = 2004-10-06| publisher = "WTAP-TV"]

Manchin had an edge in the election with better name recognition and a strong financial advantage over Warner. In the closing weeks of the election campaign, Manchin spent $3.3 million against $880,000 by Warner.cite web| url = http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/politics/campaign/04sbwestvirginia.html | title = West Virginia | accessdate = 2008-05-16 | date = 2004-11-04| publisher = "The New York Times"]

Election results

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (US)
candidate = Joe Manchin
votes = 472,758
percentage = 63.5
change = +13.4Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (US)
candidate = Monty Warner
votes = 253,131
percentage = 34.0
change = -13.2Election box candidate with party link
party = Mountain Party
candidate = Jesse Johnson
votes = 18,430
percentage = 2.5
change = +0.9Election box candidate
party = Write-in
candidate = Simon McClure
votes = 114
percentage = 0.02
change = +0.01Election box majority
votes = 219,627
percentage = 29.5
change = +26.6Election box turnout
votes = 744,433
percentage = 63.7
change = +2.9Election box hold with party link
winner = Democratic Party (US)
swing =

References

ee also