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County results Moore: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Rockefeller: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Elections in West Virginia |
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The 1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1972, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Incumbent governor Arch A. Moore, Jr. successfully ran for reelection to a second term. This was the first time a governor was reelected in state history.
Both the primaries and general election were held in the aftermath of the Buffalo Creek flood and a movement to abolish strip mining in the state. Democratic nominee Jay Rockefeller campaigned on a proposal to abolish strip mining entirely if elected.[1]
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Democratic | Jay Rockefeller | 262,613 | 72.20% | |
Democratic | Lee M. Kenna | 63,514 | 17.46% | |
Democratic | Bobbie Edward Myers | 37,616 | 10.34% | |
Total votes | 363,743 | 100.00% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
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Republican | Arch A. Moore, Jr. (incumbent) | 423,817 | 54.74 | |
Democratic | Jay Rockefeller | 350,462 | 45.26 | |
Total votes | 774,279 | 100 | ||
Republican hold |