WEST VIRGINIA
      Nov. 8, 2011 Governor Special Election

Gov.
 Sen.1
 Sen.2
2022


2021


2020
 x
x
2019


2018
x
2017


2016
 x

2015


2014

x
2013


2012
 x x
2011
 10/4

2010
x
2009


2008


2007


2006


2005


2004


2003


2002


2001


2000


1999


1998


1997


1996


1995


1994


1993


1992


1991


1990


1989



+Earl Ray Tomblin (D) i
 149,202
 49.55%
Bill Maloney (R) 141,656
 47.05%
Bob Henry Baber (M)
 6,083
 2.02%
Marla Dee Ingels (I)
2,875
 0.95%
Harry V. Bertram (ATP)
 1,111
 0.37%
write-ins (3)
 157
 0.05%

301,084
Registration: 1,... 
Plurality: 7,546 votes (2.50 percentage points).
 WV Sec. of State


Notes: Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin (D) assumed office on Nov. 15, 2010 after the seat was vacated by Joe Manchin following his election to the U.S. Senate.  In the Oct. 4, 2011 special election, Tomblin defeated businessman Bill Maloney (R) by a 2.5 percentage point margin.  Also on the ballot were three third party candidates.

Tomblin had more than three decades of service in public office.  He was first elected to the WV House in 1974 at age 22.  In 1980 he was elected to the WV Senate in 1980 and served as president of the Senate from 1995 to 2011.  Maloney, by contrast, was a first-time candidate. A drilling consultant, he had gained some notice for his role in the rescue of trapped Chilean miners in 2010, but was not well known before the campaign.

In the May 14 Democratic primary, Tomblin defeated four challengers, garnering 40.40% of the vote (51,348 of 127,111 votes tallied).  Other top finishers were House of Delegates Speaker Rick Thompson at 24.10%, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant at 17.39% and State Treasurer John Perdue at 12.58%.  In the Republican primary Maloney topped a field of eight candidates with 45.04% (27,871 votes of 61,886 tallied) followed by former Secretary of State Betty Ireland at 30.75%.

Tomblin gained numerous endorsements.  Meanwhile, Republicans sought to tie him to Obama, who was not popular in the state.  Tomblin and Maloney engaged in one televised debate, hosted by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association and the state AARP, in mid-September.


Campaign Managers:
 Earl Ray Tomblin:  Joe Shafer
(Feb. 2011)  Northeast political director at the DCCC, Apr. 2009-Jan. 2011.  Executive director for the Pennsylvania HDCC, Mar. 2008-Mar. 2009.  Campaign manager on No on I-960 (WA), Aug.-Nov. 2007.  Campaign manager on Zack Space for Congress (OH-18), June-Nov. 2006.  Campaign manager on Tammy Duckworth for Congress (IL-6), Dec. 2005-Apr. 2006.  Campaign manager on Leslie Byrne for Lt. Governor (VA), Mar.-Nov. 2005.  Campaign manager on David Valesky for State Senate (NY), July-Nov. 2004.  Studied at Northwestern University.

Bill Maloney:  Matt Dabrowski
(to Aug. 1, 2011; left for family reasons)



See also:
--.  "The machine wins."  The Economist, Oct. 8, 2011.

--.  "Local Issues Trump National Politics as Tomblin Wins in West Virginia."  PBS, Oct. 5, 2011.

Alexander Burns.  "Lessons from West Virginia."  Politico, Oct. 5, 2011.

Martin Gould.  "GOP Anticipates Upset in W.Va. Governor Race."  NewsMax, Oct. 3, 2011.

Lawrence Messina.  "Attack ads now the norm in W.Va. race for governor."  Associated Press, Sept. 19, 2011.



ADVERTISEMENT