2012 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
← 2010 November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06) 2014 →
All 3 West Virginia seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 2 1
Seats won 2 1
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 384,253 257,101
Percentage 59.91% 40.09%
Swing Increase 4.88% Decrease 4.21%
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The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the three U.S. representatives from West Virginia, one from each of the state's three congressional districts. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 113th Congress from January 2013 until January 2015. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. A Senate election was also held on that date, during which incumbent Joe Manchin won re-election. As of 2023, this is the last time that a Democrat won a U.S. House seat in West Virginia.

Overview

District Republican Democratic Total Result
Votes % Votes % Votes %
District 1 133,809 62.48% 80,342 37.52% 214,151 100.0% Republican hold
District 2 158,206 69.77% 68,560 30.23% 226,766 100.0% Republican hold
District 3 92,238 46.02% 108,199 53.98% 200,437 100.0% Democratic hold
Total 384,253 59.91% 257,101 40.09% 641,354 100.0%
Popular vote
Republican
 
 59.91%
Democratic
 
 40.09%
House seats
Republican
 
 66.67%
Democratic
 
 33.33%

Redistricting

In August 2011, the West Virginia Legislature passed a redistricting plan which would make only minor changes to the state's congressional districts. Under the new map, Mason County is moved from the 2nd district to the 3rd district, while the 1st district is unchanged.[1] Governor Earl Ray Tomblin signed the map into law on August 18.[2]

District 1

Republican David McKinley, who has represented West Virginia's 1st congressional district since January 2011, ran for re-election.[3]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Primary results

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McKinley (incumbent) 36,107 100.0
Total votes 36,107 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Declined

Primary results

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Sue Thorn 49,203 100.0
Total votes 49,203 100.0

General election

Results

West Virginia's 1st congressional district, 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican David McKinley (incumbent) 133,809 62.5
Democratic Sue Thorn 80,342 37.5
Total votes 214,151 100.0
Republican hold

District 2

Republican Shelley Moore Capito, who has represented West Virginia's 2nd congressional district since 2001, ran for reelection.[9][3]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary

Primary results

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shelley Moore Capito (incumbent) 35,088 83.0
Republican Jonathan Miller 4,711 11.1
Republican Michael Davis 2,495 5.9
Total votes 42,294 100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary

Declined

Primary results

Democratic primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Howard Swint 22,563 48.3
Democratic William McCann 13,668 29.2
Democratic Dugald Brown 10,514 22.5
Total votes 46,745 100.0

General election

Results

West Virginia's 2nd congressional district, 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shelley Moore Capito (incumbent) 158,206 69.8
Democratic Howard Swint 68,560 30.2
Total votes 226,766 100.0
Republican hold

District 3

2012 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election
← 2010
2014 →
 
Nominee Nick Rahall Rick Snuffer
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 108,223 92,214
Percentage 53.9% 46.0%
County results
Rahall:      50–60%      60–70%
Snuffer:      50–60%
U.S. Representative before election

Nick Rahall
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Nick Rahall
Democratic

Democrat Nick Rahall, who had represented West Virginia's 3rd congressional district since 1993, ran for reelection.[5]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Primary results

Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 66,745 100.0
Total votes 66,745 100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary

Primary results

Republican primary results[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Rick Snuffer 12,359 53.4
Republican Lee Bias 6,671 28.8
Republican Bill Lester 4,104 17.8
Total votes 23,134 100.0

General election

Endorsements

Rick Snuffer (R)
Organizations

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[16] Likely D November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[17] Safe D November 2, 2012
Roll Call[18] Likely D November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[19] Likely D November 5, 2012
NY Times[20] Lean D November 4, 2012
RCP[21] Likely D November 4, 2012
The Hill[22] Likely D November 4, 2012

Results

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district, 2012[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 108,199 54.0
Republican Rick Snuffer 92,238 46.0
Total votes 200,437 100.0
Democratic hold

References

  1. ^ Miller, Joshua (August 8, 2011). "Only Minor Tweaks Made to New West Virginia Map". Roll Call. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  2. ^ Miller, Joshua (August 18, 2011). "Governor Signs New West Virginia Map". Roll Call. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Filing For Congress". West Virginia MetroNews. January 27, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.
  4. ^ "Thorn announces bid to unseat McKinley". The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. December 2, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c Messina, Lawrence (January 28, 2012). "W.Va. candidates file for Congress, state offices". The Washington Examiner. Associated Press. Retrieved January 29, 2012.[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Wilson, Katie (January 10, 2012). "Candidates begin filing for 2012 ballot". Times West Virginian. Retrieved January 10, 2012.
  7. ^ Isenstadt, Alex (December 7, 2010). "Alan Mollohan weighs 2012 comeback". Politico. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  8. ^ Knezevich, Alison (September 6, 2011). "Oliverio to try again". The Charleston Gazette. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2011.
  9. ^ "WVa US Rep Shelley Moore Capito overcomes rare GOP primary challenge in bid for 7th term". Associated Press. 8 May 2012. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  10. ^ Vincent, Jenni (May 11, 2011). "Miller announces congressional bid". The Journal. Archived from the original on August 25, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  11. ^ Kabler, Phil (January 14, 2012). "Phil Kabler: Perfect plan revisited". The Charleston Gazette. Retrieved January 17, 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Statewide Results". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved May 27, 2012.
  13. ^ a b "WV SOS - Election Results Center - State And County Election Results". West Virginia Secretary of State Elections Results Center.
  14. ^ Miller, Joshua; Livingston, Abby (January 30, 2012). "West Virginia: Nick Rahall's 2004 GOP Foe Is Running Again". Roll Call. Archived from the original on February 2, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  15. ^ "CANDIDATES". gopyoungguns.com. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  16. ^ "The Cook Political Report — Charts – 2012 House Competitive Races". Cookpolitical.com. November 5, 2012. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
  17. ^ "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com. November 2, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.
  18. ^ [1], as of November 4, 2012
  19. ^ Crystal Ball, as of November 5, 2012
  20. ^ House Race Ratings, The New York Times, as of November 4, 2012
  21. ^ [2], as of November 4, 2012
  22. ^ "House Ratings". The Hill. November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2012.

External links

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