United States Senate election in West Virginia, 2008

The West Virginia United States Senate Election of 2008 will be held on November 4, 2008. John D. Rockefeller, IV (D) will be seeking a fifth six-year term. The victor will be sworn in on January 3, 2009; the term will expire on January 3, 2015.

Background

Before the 2000 presidential election, West Virginia had been won by the Democratic nominee every time since 1932 (except for the Republican landslides of 1956, 1972, and 1984). In 2000, then Republican Governor George W. Bush of Texas won West Virginia’s five electoral college votes over then Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee by a margin of 52-46. Also in the 2000 election, Republican Shelley Moore Capito, the daughter of Former West Virginia Governor Arch A. Moore, Jr., won a surprise victory over Democrat Jim Humphreys for West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District seat to the United States House of Representatives. She is the first Republican in West Virginia to hold a Congressional office for more than one term since her father (1957-1969). She is, however, at risk of losing her seat. Before these two major victories for national and West Virginia Republicans, it was difficult to find a Republican who could mount a formidable campaign against Democrats running for public office in West Virginia.

President Bush won West Virginia again in the 2004 presidential election over John F. Kerry, the Democratic junior Senator from Massachusetts by a margin of 56-43. Both Representative Alan Mollohan (D-1st District) and Representative Nick Rahall (D-3rd District) had more formidable challenges from Republicans when compared to 2000 and 2002.

Since 2000, the Republicans have gained seven net seats in both the West Virginia Senate and the West Virginia House of Delegates. However, the Democrats hold 60% of the seats in the Senate and 68% of the seats in the House.

Along with continued majorities in the legislature, Democrats have also had some other 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 John D. Rockefeller, IV, easily won a fourth term to the Senate in 2002 by a margin of 63-37 over Republican former state senator Jay Wolfe. In 2000, 2002, and 2004, both Representative Mollohan and Representative Rahall were re-elected by much stronger margins than Capito. In 2004, Republican Monty Warner failed to defeat Democratic West Virginia Secretary of State Joe Manchin for governor.

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 [http://www.wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=2679] . 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 First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles T. Miller currently represents the district.

Candidates

Democratic Party

*Jay Rockefeller - incumbent

Defeated in Primary

*Sheirl Fletcher
*Billy Hendricks

Republican Party

*Jay Wolfe - former State Senator, 1988 and 2002 United States Senate nominee

Polling

Rockefeller's job approval ratings

All Job Approval Ratings from [http://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollTrack.aspx?g=8f1d1eea-6b36-4620-887f-fa67f65f3f8f Survey USA]

Election Results

Democratic Primary

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Jay Rockefeller
votes = 271,370
percentage = 77.1
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Sheirl Fletcher
votes = 51,073
percentage = 14.5
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Billy Hendricks
votes = 29,707
percentage = 8.4
change = Election box turnout
votes = 352,150
percentage =
change =

General Election

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Jay Rockefeller
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Jay Wolfe
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box majority
votes =
percentage =
change = Election box turnout
votes =
percentage =
change =

External links

* [http://www.wvsos.com/elections/main.htm Elections] from the "West Virginia Secretary of State"
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=WV&go33.x=9&go33.y=9 U.S. Congress candidates for West Virginia] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=senate-WV West Virginia, U.S. Senate] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=294974 West Virginia U.S. Senate] from "OurCampaigns.com"
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/WV-Sen West Virginia U.S. Senate race] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=WVS2&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
*"Official campaign websites"
** [http://www.jay08.com/ Jay Rockefeller] , Democratic candidate
** [http://www.jaywolfe2008.com/ Jay Wolfe] , Republican candidate