2010 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia by district:{{cite web |last=Haas |first=Karen L. |date=June 3, 2011 |title=Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010 |url=http://history.house.gov/Institution/Election-Statistics/Election-Statistics/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513064039/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2010election.pdf |archive-date=2012-05-13 |access-date=November 12, 2019 |website=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |publisher=Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives}}

{{ElectionsWV}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2010 West Virginia's 1st congressional district election

| country = West Virginia

| type = presidential

| ongoing = no

| previous_election = 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia#District 1

| previous_year = 2008

| next_election = 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia#District 1

| next_year = 2012

| image_size = x150px

| image1 = File:David McKinley, official portrait, 112th Congress (cropped).jpg

| nominee1 = David McKinley

| party1 = Republican Party (United States)

| popular_vote1 = 90,660

| percentage1 = 50.4%

| image2 = File:3x4.svg

| nominee2 = Mike Oliverio

| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)

| popular_vote2 = 89,220

| percentage2 = 49.6%

| map_image = 2010 WV-01 election results.svg

| map_size = 250px

| map_caption = Results by county
McKinley: {{legend0|#ed8783|50–60%}} {{legend0|#e55651|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d02923|70–80%}}
Oliverio: {{legend0|#8da9e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#678cd7|60–70%}}

| title = U.S. Representative

| before_election = Alan Mollohan

| before_party = Democratic Party (United States)

| after_election = David McKinley

| after_party = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{See also|West Virginia's 1st congressional district}}

This conservative"Partisan Voting Index Districts of the 111th Congress." The Cook Political Report. N.p., n.d. Web.

19 June 2011. . district, rooted in the northern counties of West Virginia, had been represented by moderate Democrat Alan Mollohan since he was first elected to replace his father, Bob Mollohan, in 1982. Although John McCain won the district with 58% of the vote in 2008, Mollohan had run unopposed that same year, highlighting Democratic strength amidst changing coalitions.{{Cite web |title=Mollohan alert - - POLITICO.com |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/0110/Mollohan_alert.html |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=www.politico.com}}

Running for a fifteenth term, Mollohan faced a serious challenge in the Democratic primary from state Senator Mike Oliverio. Initially, few saw Oliverio as having a credible chance, owing to his late entry into the race, and his decision to run as a more conservative candidate.{{Cite web |date=2010-03-30 |title=Mollohan Gets a Primary Challenge From His Right |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2010/03/30/mollohan-gets-a-primary-challenge-from-his-right/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Roll Call |language=en}}

Mollohan had previously faced ethics questions on whether he had given earmarks to businesses owned by his friends, earning him criticism from Oliverio as "one of the most corrupt congressmen" and a creature of Washington.{{Cite web |last=Rudin |first=Ken |date=May 11, 2010 |title=Alan Mollohan, 14-Term West Virginia Democrat, Ousted In Primary |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/politicaljunkie/2010/05/11/126766266/alan-mollohan-14-term-west-virginia-democrat-ousted-in-primary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926075828/https://www.npr.org/sections/politicaljunkie/2010/05/11/126766266/alan-mollohan-14-term-west-virginia-democrat-ousted-in-primary |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |access-date=July 4, 2023 |website=NPR}}{{Cite web |last=Isenstadt |first=Alex |date=2010-05-11 |title=Mollohan loses in West Virginia |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/05/mollohan-loses-in-west-virginia-037113 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} Mollohan also faced criticism for some of his votes in Congress. Votes such as those in favor of the Affordable Care Act, and vacillation before ultimately voting against a cap and trade bill, cost him goodwill with formerly allied interest groups and local newspapers.

Mollohan attacked Oliverio as being a Republican running as a Democrat, and focused on his membership in the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative lobbying group.

Polls from both camps showed different results, and Mollohan raised more money than Oliverio.{{Cite web |date=2010-04-27 |title=West Virginia: Mollohan, Oliverio Camps Clash Over Polls |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2010/04/27/west-virginia-mollohan-oliverio-camps-clash-over-polls/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Roll Call |language=en}}{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2010-04-30 |title=Mollohan keeps money edge as Dem primary nears |url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/mollohan-keeps-money-edge-as-dem-primary-nears/article_ba294695-d9d1-55d4-8f6c-418fa6f40a36.html |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=Charleston Gazette-Mail |language=en}} Ultimately, Congressman Mollohan would be defeated by Oliverio, taking around 44% of the vote to Oliverio's 56%, becoming the first House incumbent to lose that cycle.{{cite news |title=Alan Mollohan loses primary fight |url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/house/alan-mollohan-loses-primary-fi.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927060529/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/house/alan-mollohan-loses-primary-fi.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 27, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 11, 2010 }} Mollohan attributed his loss, in part, to attacks by Oliverio he referred to as "totally spurious and totally false", but also acknowledged that the environment had turned strongly against incumbents.{{Cite web |date=2010-05-12 |title=W.Va. Congressman's 28-Year Run Ends in Primary - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/wva-congressmans-28-year-run-ends-in-primary/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Democratic Primary Results{{Cite web|url=https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=5&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=27 August 2023}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Mike Oliverio

|votes = 36,135

|percentage = 55.91%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Alan Mollohan (incumbent)

|votes = 28,500

|percentage = 44.09%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 64,635

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

[[File:2010 WV-01 Democratic primary.svg|thumb|250px|Democratic primary results by county:

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#87be51|Oliverio}}

|{{legend|#87be51|50–60%}}

|{{legend|#63a61f|60–70%}}

}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#8db8e2|Mollohan}}

|{{legend|#8db8e2|50–60%}}

|{{legend|#679fd7|60–70%}}

}}

]]

In the general election, Oliverio, faced Republican nominee David McKinley, a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and a former chair of the West Virginia Republican Party. McKinley emerged as the establishment favorite against former state senator Sarah Minear, and both spent sizable amounts of their own money on the race.{{Cite web |last1=Hohmann |first1=James |last2=Isenstadt |first2=Alex |date=2010-05-11 |title=Five things to watch on Tuesday |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/05/five-things-to-watch-on-tuesday-037052 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828034428/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/05/five-things-to-watch-on-tuesday-037052 |archive-date=2023-08-28 |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Isenstadt |first=Alex |date=2010-05-03 |title=Bidding war for Mollohan seat |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/05/bidding-war-for-mollohan-seat-036680 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001152327/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/05/bidding-war-for-mollohan-seat-036680 |archive-date=2020-10-01 |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} Both candidates saw their past voting record come under scrutiny, particularly on tax issues.{{Cite web |last=Isenstadt |first=Alex |date=2010-04-27 |title=Attacks boomerang in W.V. race |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/04/attacks-boomerang-in-wv-race-036447 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202174716/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/04/attacks-boomerang-in-wv-race-036447 |archive-date=2019-12-02 |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} However, a third contender emerged in future West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner. Warner was seen as likely to siphon votes from Minear, though in the last days of the race, he faced scrutiny for allegations that his businesses owed nearly $3 million in taxes. McKinley would emerge the victor by 8 points.{{Cite web |last=Giroux |first=Greg |date=2010-05-12 |title=West Virginia: With Mollohan Out, GOP Goes After Oliverio |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2010/05/12/west-virginia-with-mollohan-out-gop-goes-after-oliverio/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810235445/https://rollcall.com/2010/05/12/west-virginia-with-mollohan-out-gop-goes-after-oliverio/ |archive-date=2022-08-10 |access-date=2023-08-28 |website=Roll Call |language=en}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Republican Primary Results{{Cite web|url=https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=5&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results|website=West Virginia Secretary of State| accessdate= 27 August 2023}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = David B. McKinley

|votes = 14,783

|percentage = 34.86%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Andrew Warner

|votes = 11,353

|percentage = 26.77%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Sarah Minear

|votes = 8,994

|percentage = 21.21%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Thomas Frederick Stark

|votes = 3,636

|percentage = 8.57%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Patricia Carol Levenson

|votes = 2,110

|percentage = 4.98%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Cynthia Hall

|votes = 1,533

|percentage = 3.61%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 42,409

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

[[File:2010 WV-01 Republican primary.svg|thumb|250px|Republican primary results by county:

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#ed8783|McKinley}}

|{{legend|#fbdedd|30–40%}}

|{{legend|#f1b4b2|40–50%}}

|{{legend|#ed8783|50–60%}}

|{{legend|#d02923|70–80%}}

}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#c88fe4|Warner}}

|{{legend|#f8effe|20–30%}}

|{{legend|#f2dffc|30–40%}}

}}

{{collapsible list

| title = {{legend|#7bc7ae|Minear}}

|{{legend|#ecf9f4|20–30%}}

|{{legend|#d8f3ea|30–40%}}

|{{legend|#a8dccb|40–50%}}

|{{legend|#7bc7ae|50–60%}}

}}

]]

In a year that saw a strong anti-incumbent trend, Oliverio's outsider status was a boon to him, and to some strategists, this made him a stronger candidate than Mollohan would have been.{{Cite web |date=2010-06-06 |title=Parties may lose incumbents, but not necessarily seats {{!}} Chattanooga Times Free Press |url=https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2010/jun/06/parties-may-lose-incumbents-not-necessarily-seats/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=www.timesfreepress.com |language=en}} As, Republicans would have preferred to face a bruised Mollohan, an Oliverio campaign was going to prove to be a different challenge for Republicans.

But Oliverio faced serious headwinds, particularly among his party. For one, his refusal to outright back Nancy Pelosi for Speaker of the House was a sticking point among Democratic leaders, and he would eventually shift away from this rhetoric in the late stages of the campaign.{{Cite web |date=2010-05-15 |title=Morris: Republican Will Win 1st District - News, Sports, Jobs - The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register |url=http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/537226.html |access-date=2023-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515125608/http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/537226.html |archive-date=2010-05-15 }}{{Cite web |last=Berman |first=Russell |date=2010-10-23 |title=Speaker Nancy Pelosi is the No. 1 issue in tight West Virginia House race |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/125485-pelosi-is-number-one-issue-in-west-virginia-house-race/ |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Kraushaar |first=Josh |date=2010-05-12 |title=House Dems cool to Oliverio |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/05/house-dems-cool-to-oliverio-037141 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=POLITICO |language=en}} He also had trouble winning support with traditional Democratic groups such as the United Mine Workers of America and AFL-CIO, who had supported Mollohan and had endorsed every other Democrat running for Congress in the state except Oliverio.{{Cite web |last=Isenstadt |first=Alex |date=2010-08-10 |title=Oliverio could lose labor support |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/08/oliverio-could-lose-labor-support-040913 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Greenwire |first=PATRICK REIS of |title=Appalachian Dems Seek Distance From Obama on Coal, Climate - NYTimes.com |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/08/26/26greenwire-appalachian-dems-seek-distance-from-obama-on-c-76384.html?ref=earth |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=archive.nytimes.com}} Former West Virginia Secretary of State Ken Hechler, whom Oliverio had tried to primary in 2004, launched a PAC targeting him.{{Cite web |last=Isenstadt |first=Alex |date=2010-06-28 |title=W.Va. Dem's new PAC targets Oliverio |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/06/wva-dems-new-pac-targets-oliverio-039122 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}

McKinley, meanwhile, boosted by a strong Republican sentiment, made the race into a referendum against Democratic leaders such as Pelosi and Barack Obama, capitalizing on strong outsider sentiment. The campaign between the two was marred by barbs relating to establishment Washington figures. In a debate, McKinley would accuse his Democratic opponent of supporting the agenda of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama—to which Oliverio responded: "I am not going to Washington to get in touch with the Washington leadership. I'm going to Washington to get the national leadership in step with the people of West Virginia."{{cite news |title=McKinley, Oliverio Aware of the Anger |first=Joselyn |last=King |url=http://theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/547942/McKinley--Oliverio-Aware-of-the-Anger.html |newspaper=The Intelligencer & Wheeling News Register |date=October 21, 2010 |access-date=June 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926210733/http://theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/547942/McKinley--Oliverio-Aware-of-the-Anger.html |archive-date=September 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

Even with a strong national Republican environment, polls in the closing weeks showed a tight race. Fundraising also showed a close but narrow McKinley lead.{{Cite web |last1=A 501tax-exempt |last2=Street |first2=charitable organization 1100 13th |last3=NW |last4=Washington |first4=Suite 800 |last5=Dc 20005857-0044 |title=West Virginia District 01 2010 Race |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary?cycle=2010&id=WV01 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=OpenSecrets |language=en}} In the end, Oliverio narrowly lost the election. This would be the first time a Republican would win this district since 1966.

{{Election box begin no change

| title = West Virginia's 1st congressional district election, 2010{{Cite web|url=https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=6&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results|website=West Virginia Secretary of State| accessdate= 27 October 2023}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = David McKinley

| votes = 90,660

| percentage = 50.40

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Mike Oliverio

| votes = 89,220

| percentage = 49.60

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 179,880

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box gain with party link without swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

|loser = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{clear}}

thumb

{{See also|West Virginia's 2nd congressional district}}

This conservative district, which stretched from metro Charleston in western West Virginia to the Potomac River in the eastern region of the state, has been represented by Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito since 2001. Although Capito faced serious challenges to her re-election in 2006 and 2008, she was not seen as vulnerable this year, with The New York Times declaring this a safe Republican race.{{Cite web |title=West Virginia 2nd District Race Profile - Election 2010 - The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2010/house/west-virginia/2.html |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=www.nytimes.com}}

During the race, longtime Senator Robert Byrd died, and Capito was seen as the strongest candidate to challenge Joe Manchin in the special election to fill out the remainder of Byrd's term.{{Cite web |last=Toeplitz |first=Shira |date=2010-07-20 |title=Manchin's in, with nod to Byrd |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/07/manchins-in-with-nod-to-byrd-039956 |access-date=2023-07-04 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=Who might be tapped to fill Senator Byrd's seat, fast? |work=Christian Science Monitor |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0628/Who-might-be-tapped-to-fill-Senator-Byrd-s-seat-fast |access-date=2023-07-04 |issn=0882-7729}} Ultimately, Capito declined to enter the race, choosing to run for re-election.

She faced Democratic nominee Virginia Lynch Graf and Constitution Party candidate Phil Hudok in the general election, whom she was able to defeat in an overwhelming landslide to win a sixth term in Congress.

{{Election box begin no change |title=Democratic Primary Results{{Cite web|url=https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=5&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=27 August 2023}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Virginia Lynch Graf

|votes = 29,579

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 29,579

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Republican Primary Results{{Cite web|url=https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=5&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate= 27 August 2023}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Shelley Moore Capito (incumbent)

|votes = 27,958

|percentage = 100.00%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 27,958

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change

| title = West Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2010{{Cite web|url=https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=6&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results|website=West Virginia Secretary of State| accessdate= 27 October 2023}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Shelley Moore Capito (incumbent)

| votes = 126,814

| percentage = 68.46

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Virginia Lynch Graf

| votes = 55,001

| percentage = 29.69

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Constitution Party (United States)

| candidate = Phil Hudok

| votes = 3,431

| percentage = 1.85

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 185,246

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

|winner = Republican Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

thumb

{{See also|West Virginia's 3rd congressional district}}

Incumbent Democratic Congressman Nick Rahall had represented this conservative-leaning district, based in the southern portion of the state since he was initially elected in 1976. Rahall had not faced a serious challenge holding onto the state's most Democratic-leaning district since 1990.{{Cite web |last=RealClearPolitics |title=Maynard vs. Rahall |url=https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/house/wv/west_virginia_3rd_district_maynard_vs_rahall-1385.html |website=RealClearPolitics}} However, 2010 would prove to be his toughest fight yet.

In the primary, Rahall faced the threat of a primary from state Delegate Ralph Rodighiero, who ultimately would not challenge him.{{Cite web |date=2009-11-24 |title=A Primary Challenger For West Virginia Rep. Rahall? |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2009/11/24/a-primary-challenger-for-west-virginia-rep-rahall/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Roll Call |language=en}} The only primary challenger he would face was Bruce Barilla, who criticized Rahall's "support" for Barack Obama, and his vote for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.{{Cite web |last=Telegraph |first=Bill ArcherBluefield Daily |date=2010-04-28 |title=House hopefuls sound off |url=https://www.bdtonline.com/news/local_news/house-hopefuls-sound-off/article_903d0d62-aa6f-5383-8806-3737e7e97072.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Bluefield Daily Telegraph |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Femme |first=Cherchez La |date=2010-06-03 |title=The Anti-Gay Sex Candidate: or The Birth of the Bleeding-Heart Conservative |url=https://valleyadvocate.com/2010/06/03/the-anti-gay-sex-candidate-or-the-birth-of-the-bleeding-heart-conservative/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Valley Advocate |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2010-06-20 |title=Here's One Way to Announce Candidacy - Politics - The Atlantic |website=The Atlantic |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/heres-one-way-to-announce-candidacy/39846/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620034544/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/05/heres-one-way-to-announce-candidacy/39846/ |archive-date=2010-06-20 }} Rahall won the primary with two-thirds of the vote, and Barilla would go on to endorse Rahall's Republican opponent Spike Maynard.{{Cite web |title=West Virginia Primary Results - Election 2010 - The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2010/results/primaries/west-virginia.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=www.nytimes.com}}{{Cite web |last=Isenstadt |first=Alex |date=2010-10-01 |title=Rahall's Dem foe backs GOP nominee |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/rahalls-dem-foe-backs-gop-nominee-043012 |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Democratic Primary Results{{Cite web|url=https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=5&county=Statewide|title= Statewide Results|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=27 August 2023}}}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Nick Rahall (incumbent)

|votes = 44,929

|percentage = 67.51%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Democratic Party (United States)

|candidate = Bruce Barilla

|votes = 21,620

|percentage = 32.49%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 66,549

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change |title=Republican Primary Results{{Cite web|url=https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=5&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results|website=West Virginia Secretary of State|accessdate=27 August 2023}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Spike Maynard

|votes = 5,056

|percentage = 30.05%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Gary Gearhart

|votes = 4,623

|percentage = 27.48%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Conrad Gale Lucas II

|votes = 4,238

|percentage = 25.19%

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

|party = Republican Party (United States)

|candidate = Lee Allen Bias

|votes = 2,906

|percentage = 17.27%

}}

{{Election box total no change

|votes = 16,823

|percentage = 100.0%

}}

{{Election box end}}

Maynard was a former Democrat and a defeated former member of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. He had narrowly prevailed in the primary by 433 votes over opponent Marty Gearhart.{{Cite web |title=West Virginia Primary Results - Election 2010 - The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/elections/2010/results/primaries/west-virginia.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=www.nytimes.com}} He had been defeated as a state justice in 2008, due to photos circulating of Maynard and the executive of an energy company Don Blankenship, socializing at a time when Massey, Blankenship's company, had cases before the state's Supreme Court.{{Cite web |last=Herald-Dispatch |first=staff and wire reportsThe |date=2010-05-12 |title=Maynard wins opportunity to face Rahall |url=https://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/maynard-wins-opportunity-to-face-rahall/article_8f621d8d-1499-541d-9220-70b67edb02e9.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=The Herald-Dispatch |language=en}} Rahall would launch ads targeting Maynard and Blankenship's relationship.{{Cite web |last=Jr |first=Ken Ward |date=2010-10-06 |title=Rahall takes on Maynard's ties to Blankenship; Maynard wants feds out of mine safety regulation |url=http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2010/10/06/rahall-takes-on-maynards-ties-to-blankenship-maynard-wants-feds-out-of-mine-safety-regulation/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Coal Tattoo |language=en-US}}

Rahall also found himself the subject of negative attacks. One advertisement claimed that Rahall, who is of Lebanese descent, was "good for the Middle East" but "bad for America".{{Cite web |date=2010-10-22 |title=Dem repeatedly attacked for being of Arab descent |url=https://www.salon.com/2010/10/22/rahall_middle_east_ad/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Salon |language=en}} Maynard also claimed that Rahall had received "money from a convicted terrorist," although Republican candidates such as George W. Bush also received money from the same individual; Rahall donated the contribution to charity.{{cite news |title=Spike Maynard's New Ad Accuses Opponent Of Taking Money From A 'Terrorist,' Even Though GOP Has Also Accepted Funds |first=Amanda |last=Terkel |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/13/spike-maynard-nick-rahall-alamoudi-ad-terrorist_n_761106.html |newspaper=Huffington Post |date=October 13, 2010 }} Despite these attacks, Rahall maintained a significant lead in polls.{{Cite web |date=2010-10-02 |title=New Poll Puts Rahall Ahead By 25 |url=https://www.rollcall.com/2010/10/02/new-poll-puts-rahall-ahead-by-25/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Roll Call |language=en}} In the end, Rahall defeated Maynard and won an eighteenth term in Congress.{{Election box begin no change

| title = West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election, 2010{{Cite web|url=https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2010&eid=6&county=Statewide|title=Statewide Results|website=West Virginia Secretary of State| accessdate= 27 October 2023}}

}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change

| party = Democratic Party (United States)

| candidate = Nick Rahall (incumbent)

| votes = 83,636

| percentage = 56.04

}}

{{Election box candidate with party link no change

| party = Republican Party (United States)

| candidate = Spike Maynard

| votes = 65,611

| percentage = 43.96

}}

{{Election box total no change

| votes = 149,247

| percentage = 100.00

}}

{{Election box hold with party link without swing

|winner = Democratic Party (United States)

}}

{{Election box end}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [http://www.wvsos.com/elections/ Elections] at the West Virginia Secretary of State
• [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=WV U.S. Congress Candidates for West Virginia] at Project Vote Smart
• [http://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerDetail.html?ContainerID=35 West Virginia U.S. House] from OurCampaigns.com
• [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=WV Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in West Virginia] from OpenSecrets
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100131024047/http://www.pollster.com/polls/wv/ 2010 West Virginia General Election] graph of multiple polls from Pollster.com

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120309070824/http://cookpolitical.com/house?toState=WV House - West Virginia] from the Cook Political Report

{{United States general elections, 2010}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:United States House Of Representatives Elections In West Virginia, 2010}}

West Virginia

2010

Category:2010 West Virginia elections