2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election

For related races, see 2024 United States gubernatorial elections.

2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election
November 5, 2024
 
Nominee Patrick Morrisey Steve Williams
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 459,300 233,976
Percentage 61.99% 31.58%
Morrisey:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
Governor before election

Jim Justice
Republican

Elected Governor

Patrick Morrisey
Republican

The 2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 5, 2024, to elect the governor of West Virginia, concurrently with the 2024 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate and elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections. Republican state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey was elected to his first term in office after defeating Democratic Huntington mayor Steve Williams in the general election.[1] Incumbent Republican Jim Justice was term-limited and was unable to seek re-election to a third consecutive term in office; he instead ran for the U.S. Senate.[2]

First elected in 2016 as a Democrat by 6.8 percentage points, Justice switched parties in August 2017 and won re-election in 2020 as a Republican by 33.3 percentage points. Primary elections took place on May 14, 2024.[3] This is the first time since 1972 that Republicans won consecutive gubernatorial elections in the state. However, Morrisey performed worse than Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who outperformed Morrisey by 7.98 percentage points. Meanwhile, Williams outperformed Kamala Harris by 3.48 percentage points. All statewide Democratic nominees failed to carry a single county in their respective general election races in 2024.

Background

A conservative rural southeastern state, West Virginia is considered extremely Republican at the federal and state levels; Republicans hold all statewide executive offices and supermajorities in both state legislative houses, and from 2015 until he became an Independent in 2024, Senator Joe Manchin had been the state's only congressional Democrat. In the 2020 presidential election, Donald Trump carried West Virginia by 38.93 percentage points.

With Jim Justice term-limited and unable to run for a third consecutive term as Governor, the Republican primary was expected to be competitive and crowded. Most analysts considered Republicans to be a heavy favorite, given the state's partisan lean and the margin from the previous election.[4]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Eliminated in primary

Withdrew

Declined

Endorsements

Moore Capito

Federal politicians

Statewide politicians

Newspapers

Chris Miller

Individuals

Patrick Morrisey

Individuals

Organizations

Debates

2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election Republican primary debates
No. Date Host Moderator Link Republican Republican Republican Republican
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Non-invitee   I  Invitee W  Withdrawn
Morrisey Capito Miller Warner
1 Dec. 8, 2023 MetroNews Hoppy Kercheval YouTube A P P P
2 Feb. 29, 2024 Hoppy Kercheval YouTube P P P P
3 Apr. 30, 2024 WSAZ-3 WSAZ-3 P P P P

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of April 28, 2024
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Patrick Morrisey (R) $3,624,343 $3,078,086 $695,276
Moore Capito (R) $2,131,285 $1,519,377 $599,354
Chris Miller (R) $1,615,788 $6,175,751 $519,538
Mac Warner (R) $559,038 $372,948 $172,787
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State[25]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Moore
Capito 		Chris
Miller 		Patrick
Morrisey 		Mac
Warner 		Other Undecided
Emerson College[26] May 2–5, 2024 558 (LV) ± 4.1% 29% 21% 33% 15% 3%[b] –
Research America[27][A] April 24 – May 1, 2024 407 (LV) ± 4.9% 24% 25% 32% 10% 3% 6%
NMB Research[28][B] April 20–22, 2024 500 (LV) ± 4.4% 31% 14% 23% 13% – 18%
Research America[29][A] April 3–9, 2024 400 (LV) ± 4.9% 29% 16% 31% 12% 3% 10%
WPA Intelligence[30][C] April 1–3, 2024 501 (LV) ± 4.4% 20% 19% 37% 14% – 9%
Emerson College[31] March 19–21, 2024 735 (LV) ± 3.6% 14% 16% 33% 6% – 29%
WPA Intelligence[32][C] November 27–29, 2023 507 (LV) ± 4.4% 23% 10% 39% 14% – 14%
American Pulse Research
& Polling (R)[33][D] 		November 13–14, 2023 414 (LV) ± 4.8% 23% 10% 31% 14% – 23%
CAMP[34][E] November 10–12, 2023 863 (LV) ± 3.26% 18% 11% 24% 21% 5% 21%
West Virginia MetroNews[35][36] August 16–26, 2023 402 (RV) ± 4.9% 32% 9% 27% 6% – 26%
Orion Strategies[37][F] June 17–20, 2023 651 (LV) ± 6.0% 30% 5% 31% 9% 8%[c] 17%
National Research Inc.[38] February 23–28, 2023 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 15% 6% 28% 11% 6%[d] 29%

Results

Republican primary results[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Patrick Morrisey 75,111 33.28%
Republican Moore Capito 62,181 27.55%
Republican Chris Miller 46,010 20.39%
Republican Mac Warner 36,170 16.03%
Republican Mitch Roberts 3,138 1.39%
Republican Kevin Christian 3,088 1.37%
Total votes 225,698 100.00%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Declined

Results

Democratic primary results[39]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Steve Williams 89,545 100.00%
Total votes 89,545 100.00%

Other candidates

Mountain Party

Nominee

Libertarian Party

Nominee

  • Erika Kolenich, attorney and nominee for governor in 2020[44]

Constitution Party

Nominee

Independents

Declined

  • Joe Manchin, U.S. senator (2010–2025) and former governor (2005–2010) (endorsed Williams)[46]

General election

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[47] Solid R June 13, 2024
Inside Elections[48] Solid R July 14, 2023
Sabato's Crystal Ball[49] Safe R June 4, 2024
RCP[50] Solid R July 13, 2024
Elections Daily[51] Safe R July 12, 2023
CNalysis[52] Solid R August 17, 2024

Post-primary endorsements

Patrick Morrisey (R)

Federal officials

Steve Williams (D)

Federal officials

  • Joe Manchin, U.S. Senator (2010–2025) and former governor (2005–2010)[46]

Debates

2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election debate[54]
No. Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic
Key:
 P  Participant   A  Absent   N  Not invited   I  Invited  W  Withdrawn
Morrisey Williams
1 Oct. 29, 2024 MetroNews Hoppy Kercheval C-SPAN P P

Fundraising

Campaign finance reports as of October 25, 2024
Candidate Raised Spent Cash on hand
Patrick Morrisey (R) $6,824,464 $6,183,264 $1,351,895
Steve Williams (D) $250,255 $92,274 $156,426
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State[25]

Polling

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Patrick
Morrisey (R) 		Steve
Williams (D) 		Undecided
Research America[55][G] August 21–27, 2024 400 (RV) ± 4.9% 49% 35% 16%[e]
Hypothetical polling

Patrick Morrisey vs. Joe Manchin vs. Steve Williams

Poll source Date(s)
administered 		Sample
size[a] 		Margin
of error 		Patrick
Morrisey (R) 		Joe
Manchin (I) 		Steve
Williams (D) 		Other Undecided
Kaplan Strategies[56] June 4, 2024 464 (LV) ± 4.6% 34% 26% 21% 1% 18%

Results

2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election[57][58]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Patrick Morrisey 459,300 61.99% 1.50%
Democratic Steve Williams 233,976 31.58% 1.36%
Libertarian Erika Kolenich 21,228 2.87%
Constitution S. Marshall Wilson 16,828 2.27% N/A
Mountain Chase Linko-Looper 9,596 1.30% 0.14%
Write-in 10 0.00% 0.05%
Total votes 740,938 100.00% N/A
Republican hold

By county

Morrisey won every county in the state.

County[57] Patrick Morrisey
Republican 		Steve Williams
Democratic 		Various candidates
Other parties 		Margin Total
# % # % # % # %
Barbour 4,521 72.52% 1,298 20.82% 415 6.66% 3,223 51.70% 6,234
Berkeley 33,619 61.08% 15,120 27.47% 6,302 11.45% 18,499 33.61% 55,041
Boone 4,874 62.16% 2,509 32.00% 458 5.84% 2,365 30.16% 7,841
Braxton 3,329 64.52% 1,535 29.75% 296 5.74% 1,794 34.77% 5,160
Brooke 6,250 66.28% 2,615 27.73% 564 5.98% 3,635 38.55% 9,429
Cabell 17,316 49.90% 15,432 44.47% 1,953 5.63% 1,884 5.43% 34,701
Calhoun 2,008 72.39% 607 21.88% 159 5.73% 1,401 50.50% 2,774
Clay 2,065 65.87% 857 27.34% 213 6.79% 1,208 38.53% 3,135
Doddridge 2,186 76.46% 506 17.70% 167 5.84% 1,680 58.76% 2,859
Fayette 9,093 60.34% 5,006 33.22% 970 6.44% 4,087 27.12% 15,069
Gilmer 1,522 67.14% 594 26.20% 151 6.66% 928 40.94% 2,267
Grant 4,535 85.24% 583 10.96% 202 3.80% 3,952 74.29% 5,320
Greenbrier 9,046 61.68% 4,944 33.71% 675 4.60% 4,102 27.97% 14,665
Hampshire 7,755 76.33% 1,794 17.66% 611 6.01% 5,961 58.67% 10,160
Hancock 8,590 68.13% 3,335 26.45% 684 5.42% 5,255 41.68% 12,609
Hardy 4,497 71.93% 1,364 21.82% 391 6.25% 3,133 50.11% 6,252
Harrison 17,953 62.35% 8,771 30.46% 2,072 7.20% 9,182 31.89% 28,796
Jackson 7,886 63.00% 3,499 27.95% 1,133 9.05% 4,387 35.05% 12,518
Jefferson 16,716 58.23% 10,705 37.29% 1,287 4.48% 6,011 20.94% 28,708
Kanawha 34,907 47.60% 33,906 46.24% 4,519 6.16% 1,001 1.37% 73,332
Lewis 4,873 70.06% 1,501 21.58% 581 8.35% 3,372 48.48% 6,955
Lincoln 4,505 65.15% 1,942 28.08% 468 6.77% 2,563 37.06% 6,915
Logan 7,424 69.12% 2,865 26.67% 452 4.21% 4,559 42.44% 10,741
Marion 13,883 57.57% 8,380 34.75% 1,853 7.68% 5,503 22.82% 24,116
Marshall 8,522 65.80% 3,605 27.83% 825 6.37% 4,917 37.96% 12,952
Mason 6,455 62.92% 3,239 31.57% 565 5.51% 3,216 31.35% 10,259
McDowell 3,489 69.95% 1,189 23.84% 310 6.21% 2,300 46.11% 4,988
Mercer 16,234 70.85% 5,560 24.27% 1,118 4.88% 10,674 46.59% 22,912
Mineral 9,771 77.21% 2,306 18.22% 578 4.57% 7,465 58.99% 12,655
Mingo 5,873 73.81% 1,781 22.38% 303 3.81% 4,092 51.43% 7,957
Monongalia 19,233 47.45% 18,949 46.75% 2,348 5.79% 284 0.70% 40,530
Monroe 4,454 72.05% 1,470 23.78% 258 4.17% 2,984 48.27% 6,182
Morgan 6,373 72.30% 1,747 19.82% 695 7.88% 4,626 52.48% 8,815
Nicholas 6,699 68.74% 2,552 26.19% 495 5.08% 4,147 42.55% 9,746
Ohio 10,634 58.29% 6,646 36.43% 962 5.27% 3,988 21.86% 18,242
Pendleton 2,486 75.29% 661 20.02% 155 4.69% 1,825 55.27% 3,302
Pleasants 2,358 73.03% 675 20.90% 196 6.07% 1,683 52.12% 3,229
Pocahontas 2,465 65.70% 1,057 28.17% 230 6.13% 1,408 37.53% 3,752
Preston 9,874 70.72% 3,055 21.88% 1,033 7.40% 6,819 48.84% 13,962
Putnam 16,068 59.96% 9,220 34.41% 1,508 5.63% 6,848 25.56% 26,796
Raleigh 20,000 67.11% 8,125 27.26% 1,678 5.63% 11,875 39.84% 29,803
Randolph 7,142 63.24% 3,376 29.89% 776 6.87% 3,766 33.35% 11,294
Ritchie 2,999 77.37% 642 16.56% 235 6.06% 2,357 60.81% 3,876
Roane 3,526 65.72% 1,535 28.61% 304 5.67% 1,991 37.11% 5,365
Summers 3,367 66.38% 1,474 29.06% 231 4.55% 1,893 37.32% 5,072
Taylor 4,829 67.92% 1,802 25.34% 479 6.74% 3,027 42.57% 7,110
Tucker 2,281 64.29% 1,040 29.31% 227 6.40% 1,241 34.98% 3,548
Tyler 2,596 73.96% 624 17.78% 290 8.26% 1,972 56.18% 3,510
Upshur 6,478 67.21% 1,948 20.21% 1,213 12.58% 4,530 47.00% 9,639
Wayne 9,471 62.32% 5,030 33.10% 697 4.59% 4,441 29.22% 15,198
Webster 2,038 70.84% 680 23.64% 159 5.53% 1,358 47.20% 2,877
Wetzel 4,007 67.49% 1,560 26.28% 370 6.23% 2,447 41.22% 5,937
Wirt 1,788 72.45% 523 21.19% 157 6.36% 1,265 51.26% 2,468
Wood 23,422 64.72% 10,532 29.10% 2,237 6.18% 12,890 35.62% 36,191
Wyoming 5,015 70.00% 1,705 23.80% 444 6.20% 3,310 46.20% 7,164
Totals 459,300 61.99% 233,976 31.58% 47,652 6.43% 225,324 30.41% 740,928

By congressional district

Morrisey won both congressional districts.[61]

District Morrisey Williams Representative
1st 60% 34% Carol Miller
2nd 63% 30% Alex Mooney (118th Congress)
Riley Moore (119th Congress)

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Key:
    A – all adults
    RV – registered voters
    LV – likely voters
    V – unclear
  2. ^ Mitch Roberts with 2%; Kevin Christian with 1%
  3. ^ J.B. McCuskey with 3%; "Another candidate" with 5%
  4. ^ J.B. McCuskey and Jeff Mullins with 3%
  5. ^ "Someone else" with 5%

Partisan clients

  1. ^ a b Poll sponsored by West Virginia MetroNews and The Health Plan
  2. ^ Poll sponsored by the Coalition for West Virginia’s Future, which supports Capito
  3. ^ a b Poll commissioned by Black Bear PAC, which supports Morrissey
  4. ^ Poll sponsored by WMOV
  5. ^ Poll sponsored by American Freedom Builders, which supports Warner
  6. ^ Poll sponsored by the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
  7. ^ Poll sponsored by West Virginia MetroNews

References

  1. ^ "West Virginia Governor Election Results 2024: Williams vs. Morrisey". The New York Times. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Staff, WDTV News (April 27, 2023). "Gov. Justice announces run for U.S. Senate". www.wdtv.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  3. ^ "2024 State Primary Election Dates". www.ncsl.org. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  4. ^ "West Virginia GOP auditor announces 2024 run for governor". AP NEWS. February 28, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
  5. ^ "AG Morrisey announces 2024 run for Governor". WDTV. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  6. ^ McElhinny, Brad (November 29, 2022). "Moore Capito, whose name likely rings a bell, says he's running for West Virginia governor". WV MetroNews. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "WV SOS - Elections - Candidate - Online Data Services". apps.sos.wv.gov. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  8. ^ Adams, Steven. "Chris Miller, Son of Congresswoman Carol Miller, Announces 2024 Run for West Virginia Governor". www.theintelligencer.net. The Intelligencer and Wheeling News Register. Retrieved December 24, 2021.
  9. ^ "W.Va. Secretary of State Mac Warner announces he will run for governor". WCHS-TV. January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  10. ^ McElhinny, Brad (July 24, 2023). "McCuskey pivots to attorney general's race, and Weld and Stuart say they won't back down". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved July 24, 2023. Two-term state Auditor J.B. McCuskey, who was competing in a crowded field for governor, has pivoted to the attorney general's race instead.
  11. ^ "W.Va. Agriculture Commissioner Kent Leonhardt to seek third term". Kent Leonhardt announced Wednesday he will seek a third term and will not run for governor.
  12. ^ "Treasurer Riley Moore jumps into congressional race, another early political announcement". WV Metro News. November 21, 2022. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  13. ^ Hodousek, Carrie (December 1, 2022). "Capito supports son's move to run for governor, says he will bring energy". Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  14. ^ McElhinny, Brad (April 18, 2024). "Governor Justice endorses Moore Capito to succeed him". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  15. ^ "In a crowded, quality field, Capito stands out". The Exponent Telegram. May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  16. ^ "Former West Virginia University coach Bob Huggins to visit Wheeling to endorse Chris Miller for Governor". WTRF. April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Weaver, Alexandra (May 31, 2023). "Citizens United president makes West Virginia governor endorsement". WBOY. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  18. ^ Davanzo, Serena (May 3, 2024). "Vivek Ramaswamy joined Patrick Morrisey on the campaign trail after endorsing him for Governor". WOAY-TV. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Americans for Prosperity Announces Endorsement of Patrick Morrisey for West Virginia Governor". americansforprosperity.org. July 19, 2023. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  20. ^ "Club for Growth PAC and Black Bear PAC Endorse Patrick Morrisey for Governor". April 5, 2023. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
  21. ^ Edwards, Billy (May 10, 2024). "The National Association for Gun Rights PAC endorses Gubernatorial Candidate Patrick Morrisey for West Virginia". National Association for Gun Rights. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  22. ^ "West Virginia". NRA-PVF. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  23. ^ "WV Coal Association Endorses Slate of Pro-Coal Candidates for 2024 Election". www.wvcoal.com. August 30, 2023. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  24. ^ Gunnoe, Cameron (January 29, 2024). "West Virginia Sheriffs' Association Endorses Attorney General Patrick Morrisey for Governor". Lootpress. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Governor - 2024 Election". West Virginia Secretary of State Campaign Finance Reporting System.
  26. ^ Emerson College
  27. ^ Research America
  28. ^ NMB Research
  29. ^ Research America
  30. ^ WPA Intelligence
  31. ^ Emerson College
  32. ^ WPA Intelligence
  33. ^ American Pulse Research
    & Polling (R)
  34. ^ CAMP
  35. ^ McElhinny, Brad (September 1, 2023). "West Virginia Poll: Justice has edge in Senate race; Moore Capito out ahead in race for governor". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  36. ^ McElhinny, Brad (September 6, 2023). "Poll: corrected results show higher percentage support for Morrisey for governor". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
  37. ^ Orion Strategies
  38. ^ National Research Inc.
  39. ^ a b "West Virginia Governor Primary Election 2024 Live Results". www.nbcnews.com. Retrieved August 18, 2024.
  40. ^ Staff, WSAZ News (September 4, 2023). "Huntington Mayor says he plans to file to run for Governor of W.Va". WSAZ. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  41. ^ Doherty, Erin (January 22, 2023). "Manchin on 2024 political ambitions: "Everything is on table"". Axios. Retrieved January 22, 2023. He did rule out running for West Virginia governor in 2024.
  42. ^ McElhinny, Brad (July 5, 2023). "Salango says he won't repeat bid for governor; Huntington Mayor Williams says he's closer to launch". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  43. ^ Lawrence, Brandy (June 20, 2023). "Chase Linko-Looper announces candidacy for Governor". WOAY. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  44. ^ "Libertarian Party selects candidate for West Virginia governor". WBOY.com. December 1, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  45. ^ Patterson, Jessica (July 30, 2024). "Former Del. Wilson joins ballot for West Virginia governor's race as Constitution Party candidate". WFXR-TV. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  46. ^ a b McClung, Ty (May 29, 2024). "Manchin addresses rumors about run for WV governor". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved May 30, 2024.
  47. ^ "2024 Governor Race ratings". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  48. ^ "Gubernatorial Ratings". Inside Elections. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  49. ^ "2024 Gubernatorial race ratings". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  50. ^ "2024 Governor Races". www.realclearpolling.com. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
  51. ^ "Election Ratings". Elections Daily. July 22, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  52. ^ "Governor Forecasts". CNalysis. Retrieved August 17, 2024.
  53. ^ "Trump endorses Patrick Morrisey in race for W.Va. governor". WCHS-TV. May 21, 2024. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
  54. ^ McElhinny, Brad (October 1, 2024). "Morrisey and Williams, candidates for governor, agree to MetroNews debate". West Virginia MetroNews. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  55. ^ Research America
  56. ^ Kaplan Strategies
  57. ^ a b Warner, Mac (November 5, 2024). "GOVERNOR". Secretary of State of West Virginia. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  58. ^ Warner, Mac (November 5, 2024). "2024 General Write-In Results" (PDF). Secretary of State of West Virginia. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 28, 2026. Retrieved March 20, 2026.
  59. ^ "West Virginia Election Results". Bloomberg. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  60. ^ "West Virginia Election Results". Bloomberg. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  61. ^ https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::aaaa571f-f204-4cbe-bcf1-404db0519d36

Official campaign websites

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