2020 West Virginia gubernatorial election
{{Short description|none}}
{{for|related races|2020 United States gubernatorial elections}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| election_name = 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial election
| country = West Virginia
| type = presidential
| ongoing = no
| previous_election = 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election
| previous_year = 2016
| next_election = 2024 West Virginia gubernatorial election
| next_year = 2024
| election_date = November 3, 2020
| image_size = 150x150px
| image1 = File:Jim Justice in November 2021.jpg
| nominee1 = Jim Justice
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 497,944
| percentage1 = 63.49%
| image2 = File:Ben Salango.png
| nominee2 = Ben Salango
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 237,024
| percentage2 = 30.22%
| map_image = {{switcher |250px |County results |250px |Congressional district results |250px |Precinct results |default=1}}
| map_size = 250px
| map_caption = Justice: {{legend0|#ffb2b2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#c21b18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#A80000|>90%}}
Salango: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}}
| title = Governor
| before_election = Jim Justice
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Jim Justice
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Elections in West Virginia}}
The 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial election was held on November 3, 2020, to elect the governor of West Virginia, concurrently with the 2020 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate, elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Governor Jim Justice announced his 2020 re-election campaign on January 7, 2019.{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Haley |title=Governor Justice announces 2020 campaign |url=https://wvva.com/news/top-stories/2019/01/07/governor-justice-announces-2020-campaign/ |access-date=January 7, 2019 |publisher=WVVA |date=January 7, 2019 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Justice was elected in 2016 as a Democrat, but later switched back to the Republican Party at a campaign rally with Donald Trump.{{cite news|title=West Virginia Undergoing Political, Generational Change|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/03/us/politics/west-virginia-governor-to-switch-from-democrat-to-republican-trump.html|access-date=August 3, 2017|newspaper=New York Times|date=August 3, 2017}} Justice won re-election to a second term, defeating Democratic Kanawha County commissioner Ben Salango. Justice's re-election made him the first Republican to be elected governor of West Virginia since Cecil Underwood in 1996. Additionally, Justice became the first incumbent Republican governor to win re-election since Arch A. Moore Jr. in 1972, as well as the first Republican to carry all counties in West Virginia. However, Justice performed worse than Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who outperformed Justice by 5.13 percentage points. Additionally, Salango slightly outperformed Biden by 0.53 percentage points. Justice's 33% margin is the largest margin for a Republican in West Virginia historyhttps://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerHistory.html?ContainerID=294
Republican primary
=Candidates=
==Nominee==
- Jim Justice, incumbent governor{{cite news|last1=Zuckerman|first1=Jake|title=Gov. Jim Justice announces re-election bid|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/gov-jim-justice-announces-re-election-bid/article_4b57a994-974e-5935-adc2-3c9ee3a66142.html|newspaper=Charleston Gazette-Mail|date=January 7, 2019|access-date=January 7, 2019}}
==Eliminated in primary==
- Shelby Jean Fitzhugh, retiree{{cite web |title=Campaign Update: Shelby Jean Fitzhugh on West Virginia's needs |url=https://wvpress.org/wvpa-sharing/campaign-update-shelby-jean-fitzhugh-on-west-virginias-needs/ |website=West Virginia Press |date=February 14, 2020}}
- Michael Folk, former state delegate{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/737ce8262d7d46bbb57aade8e6aa3e35|title=Former Delegate Mike Folk announces run for W.Va. governor|work=Associated Press|date=February 5, 2019|access-date=February 5, 2019}}
- Brooke Lunsford, insurance agent{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Alex |title=Governor, US Senate seats up in this year's election |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2020/01/29/governor-us-senate-seats-up-in-this-years-election/ |date=January 29, 2020}}
- Chuck Sheedy, U.S. Army veteran{{cite web |title=Financial Disclosure - Governor 2020 Election |url=https://cfrs.wvsos.gov/index.html#/exploreOfficeDetails/292/0/5/2020/0|website=West Virginia Secretary of State}}
- Doug Six, surveyor
- Woody Thrasher, former West Virginia Secretary of Commerce (2017–2018){{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Charles |title=Woody Thrasher to run for governor, hopes to unseat Justice in WV's 2020 election |url=https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/woody-thrasher-to-run-for-governor-hopes-to-unseat-justice/article_777408f5-fdfd-5bd1-9742-4dbea062fe3f.html |access-date=April 16, 2019 |publisher=WV News |date=April 16, 2019}}
==Declined==
- David McKinley, incumbent U.S. Representative for West Virginia's 1st congressional district (running for re-election)
- Mac Warner, Secretary of State of West Virginia (running for re-election){{cite web |last1=Kabler |first1=Phil |title=BRIM adopts statement of support for pending settlements of Mac Warner lawsuits |url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/cops_and_courts/brim-adopts-statement-of-support-for-pending-settlements-of-mac/article_7e275604-a289-5c28-9741-99a27808e735.html |website=Charleston Gazette-Mail |language=en |date=October 4, 2018 }}
=Polling=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |
| valign=bottom
! Poll source ! Date(s) ! Sample ! Margin ! style="width:70px;"| Jim ! style="width:70px;"| Mike ! style="width:70px;"| Woody ! Other / |
| style="text-align:left;"|Triton Polling & Research/WMOV[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Puz1DldgwoDHVgg4MXBlQt7l-sqs0rX2/view Triton Polling & Research/WMOV]
| May 18–26, 2020 | 719 (LV) | ± 3.7% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 53% | 15% | 14% | 18%{{efn|Undecided with 12%, Doug Six with 2.0%; Shelby Fitzhugh with 1.8%; Brooke Lunsford with 1.2%; Chuck Sheedy with 0.6%}} |
| style="text-align:left;"|WPA Intelligence (R)[https://files.constantcontact.com/c018c3da701/d585aa47-d4e3-4f1c-9ad6-789b2cf1c2c5.pdf WPA Intelligence (R)]{{efn-ua|Poll conducted for Woody Thrasher|name="Thrasher"}}
| December 16–18, 2019 | 502 (LV) | ± 4.4% | {{party shading/Republican}}| 38% | 6% | 30% | 26%' |
| style="text-align:left;"|Research America Inc.[http://wvmetronews.com/2019/12/12/west-virginia-poll-governor-justices-name-recognition-gives-him-gop-primary-advantage/ Research America Inc.]
| December 4–9, 2019 | 229 (LV) | – | {{party shading/Republican}}| 56% | 11% | 21% | 12% |
| style="text-align:left;"|Public Opinion Strategies (R)[http://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2019/08/new-polling-results-released-for-2020-west-virginia-gubernatorial-race/ Public Opinion Strategies (R)]
| August 24–25, 2019 | –{{efn|Not available}} | – |{{party shading/Republican}}|56% | – |26% |18% |
| style="text-align:left;"|Research America Inc.[http://wvmetronews.com/2019/08/30/west-virginia-poll-if-manchin-gets-in-right-now-he-would-beat-justice/ Research America Inc.]
| August 14–22, 2019 | 216 (LV) | – | {{party shading/Republican}}| 53% | 12% | 19% |17%' |
| style="text-align:left;"|WPA Intelligence[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tsCCDlzGRsUTAdoT2SbyI1BhSA2BflN0/view?link_id=69&can_id=4a538b99ca03a0c2cc19f017353635e9 WPA Intelligence]{{efn-ua|Poll sponsored by Woody Thrasher's campaign}}
| August 13–14, 2019 | 509 (V) | – |{{party shading/Republican}}|38% | 11% | 23% |28% |
| style="text-align:left;"|WPA Intelligence{{efn-ua|Poll sponsored by Woody Thrasher's campaign}}
| March 7–10, 2019 | 509 (V) | – |{{party shading/Republican}}|58% | 5% | 5% |32% |
=Results=
[[File:West Virginia Governor Republican primary, 2020.svg|thumb|Results by county:
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#E27F7F|Justice}}
|{{legend|#FFB2B2|40–50%}}
|{{legend|#E27F7F|50–60%}}
|{{legend|#D75D5D|60–70%}}
|{{legend|#D72F30|70–80%}}
|{{legend|#C21B18|80–90%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = {{legend|#FF9A50|Folk}}
|{{legend|#FFB580|40–50%}}
]]
}}
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Republican primary results {{Cite web|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/103231/web.247524/#/detail/70|title=GOVERNOR - REP|access-date= June 9, 2020|publisher=Secretary of State of West Virginia}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jim Justice (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 133,258
| percentage = 62.70%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Woody Thrasher
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 38,898
| percentage = 18.30%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Michael Folk
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 26,735
| percentage = 12.58%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Doug Six
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 4,429
| percentage = 2.08%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Brooke Lunsford
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 3,849
| percentage = 1.81%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Shelly Jean Fitzhugh
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,799
| percentage = 1.32%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Chuck Sheedy
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 2,552
| percentage = 1.20%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 212,520
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
Democratic primary
=Candidates=
==Nominee==
==Eliminated in primary==
- Douglas Hughes, environmental permit writer for West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection{{cite web |title=Douglas Hughes, Democratic candidate for W.Va. governor |url=https://wchstv.com/news/subsection-your-vote-2020/wv-governor/douglas-hughes-democratic-candidate-for-wva-governor |website=WCHS - ABC 8 |date=April 3, 2020 |access-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-date=June 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616004653/https://wchstv.com/news/subsection-your-vote-2020/wv-governor/douglas-hughes-democratic-candidate-for-wva-governor |url-status=dead }}
- Jody Murphy, businessman
- Stephen Smith, community organizer{{cite web |last1=Mistich |first1=David |title=West Virginia Community Organizer Jumps in 2020 Gubernatorial Race |url=https://www.wvpublic.org/post/west-virginia-community-organizer-jumps-2020-gubernatorial-race#stream/0 |website=WV Public Broadcasting |access-date=August 30, 2019 |date=November 27, 2018 |archive-date=September 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929050247/https://www.wvpublic.org/post/west-virginia-community-organizer-jumps-2020-gubernatorial-race#stream/0 |url-status=dead }}
- Ron Stollings, state senator{{cite web |last1=Jenkins |first1=Jeff |title=Stollings to run for governor |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2019/09/23/stollings-to-run-for-governor/ |website=WV MetroNews |date=September 23, 2019 |access-date=23 September 2019}}
==Declined==
- Booth Goodwin, former United States Attorney and candidate for Governor of West Virginia in 2016{{cite web|last1=Adams|first1=Steven Allen|title=Tis the election season again|url=https://www.journal-news.net/journal-news/tis-the-election-season-again/article_2333ae6a-0ed5-53a7-9d80-31b63f3896c8.html|work=The Journal|date=December 3, 2018|access-date=December 5, 2018}}
- Joe Manchin, incumbent U.S. Senator and former Governor of West Virginia{{cite news|url = https://www.politico.com/story/2019/09/03/joe-manchin-wont-run-for-governor-of-west-virginia-1479602|work = Politico|title = Joe Manchin won't run for governor of West Virginia|date = September 3, 2019|access-date = September 3, 2019|last = Levine|first = Marianne}}
= Endorsements =
{{Endorsements box
|title=Ben Salango
|list=
Federal politicians
- Joe Manchin, U.S. Senator (WV){{Cite web|title=Manchin endorses Salango in gubernatorial contest|url=http://wvmetronews.com/2020/03/17/manchin-endorses-salango-in-gubernatorial-contest/|last=WVMetroNews|date=2020-03-18|website=WV MetroNews|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-21}}
Individuals
- Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Allen E. Tackett, former West Virginia National Guard adjutant general (1995-2010){{Cite web|url=https://www.bensalango.com/endorsements|title=Endorsements {{pipe}} Ben Salango for Governor|website=Ben Salango|access-date=2020-06-09|archive-date=2020-09-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922001623/https://www.bensalango.com/endorsements|url-status=dead}}
Organizations
- West Virginia AFL–CIO{{cite web |title=2020 Primary Election Cope Endorsements |url=https://wvaflcio.org/legislative-and-political/2020-primary-election-cope-endorsements.html |website=West Virginia AFL-CIO |language=en-gb }}{{Dead link|date=August 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Newspapers
- Charleston Gazette-Mail{{Cite web|url=https://www.bensalango.com/|title=Ben Salango for Governor {{pipe}} West Virginia|website=Ben Salango|access-date=October 16, 2019|archive-date=October 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031202717/https://www.bensalango.com/|url-status=dead}}
}}
{{Endorsements box
|title=Stephen Smith
|list=
Federal politicians
- Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Senator (MA){{cite web |last1=McElhinny |first1=Brad |title=Elizabeth Warren pitches an early endorsement for Stephen Smith's campaign for governor |url=http://wvmetronews.com/2019/09/09/elizabeth-warren-pitches-an-early-endorsement-for-stephen-smiths-campaign-for-governor/ |website=WV MetroNews |date=September 9, 2019 |quote="I'm proud to endorse Stephen's bid for governor, and his team's efforts to run candidates up and down the ballot," Warren stated.}}
Organizations
- People for the American Way Next Up{{cite web|url=https://www.pfaw.org/next-up-victory-fund/candidates|title=Next Up Endorses Young Progressive Candidates|website=People for the American Way|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=February 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211020006/https://www.pfaw.org/next-up-victory-fund/candidates|url-status=dead}}
- Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic {{cite web |title=Planned Parenthood Votes! South Atlantic Announces Election Endorsements, including Stephen Smith for Governor|url=https://www.plannedparenthoodaction.org/planned-parenthood-votes-south-atlantic/press-room/planned-parenthood-votes-south-atlantic-announces-election-endorsements-including-stephen-smith-for-governor |website=Planned Parenthood Action Fund (PlannedParenthoodAction.org)}}
- Progressive Change Campaign Committee{{cite web |title=Join the Bold Progressive Movement!|url=https://www.boldprogressives.org/candidates/ |website=Progressive Change Campaign Committee (BoldProgressives.org)}}
- Rise Up West Virginia{{cite web|url=https://www.riseupwv.org/endorsements|title=2020 Endorsements|website=Rise Up West Virginia|access-date=March 28, 2020}}
- Working Families Party{{cite web|url=https://workingfamilies.org/2020/01/join-us-sunday-for-the-next-wfp-assembly/|title=Join us Sunday for the next WFP Assembly|website=Working Families Party|date=January 24, 2020|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=March 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329021543/https://workingfamilies.org/2020/01/join-us-sunday-for-the-next-wfp-assembly/|url-status=dead}}
}}
{{Endorsements box
|title=Ron Stollings
|list=
State legislators
- Corey Palumbo, West Virginia State Senator from the 17th and 8th districts (2009-present){{cite web|url=https://wvva.com/2020/03/18/democratic-gubernatorial-candidate-dr-stollings-criticizes-manchin-for-endorsement-of-opponent-during-covid-19-crisis/|title=Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Stollings, criticizes Manchin for endorsement of opponent during COVID-19 crisis|website=WVVA|last1=Pace|first1=Bailey|date=March 18, 2020|access-date=June 10, 2020|archive-date=May 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200518165049/https://wvva.com/2020/03/18/democratic-gubernatorial-candidate-dr-stollings-criticizes-manchin-for-endorsement-of-opponent-during-covid-19-crisis/|url-status=dead}}
}}
=Polling=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |
| valign=bottom
! Poll source ! Date(s) ! Sample ! Margin ! style="width:70px;"| Ben ! style="width:70px;"| Stephen ! style="width:70px;"| Ron ! Other / |
| style="text-align:left;"|Triton Polling & Research/WMOV[https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_uWWsER9Gje0zXX7B7i98QUJ_sFAR6uM/view Triton Polling & Research/WMOV]
| May 18–26, 2020 | 231 (LV) | ± 6.4% | {{party shading/Democratic}}|30% | 27% | 10% | {{party shading/Undecided}}|33%{{efn|Undecided with 29%, Jody Murphy with 2.9%; Douglas Hughes with 1.3%}} |
| style="text-align:left;"|Research America/MetroNews[http://wvmetronews.com/2019/12/13/west-virginia-poll-democratic-primary-is-up-for-grabs-with-most-still-undecided/ Research America/MetroNews]
| December 4–10, 2019 | 220 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 18% | {{party shading/Democratic}}|21% | 19% | {{party shading/Undecided}}|46%{{efn|Undecided with 42%, Cecil Silva with 1.8%; Jody Murphy with 1.4%; Edwin Vanover with 0.5%}} |
=Results=
[[File:West Virginia Governor Democratic primary, 2020.svg|thumb|Results by county:
{{collapsible list
| title = Salango
|{{legend|#6674deff|Salango—60–70%}}
|{{legend|#7996e2ff|Salango—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#a5b0ffff|Salango—40–50%}}
|{{legend|#becbffff|Salango—30–40%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = Smith
|{{legend|#a2ffa2ff|Smith—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#78e478ff|Smith—40–50%}}
|{{legend|#5bc75bff|Smith—50–60%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = Stollings
|{{legend|#f3d52fff|Stollings—50–60%}}
|{{legend|#dea300ff|Stollings—70–80%}}
}}
{{collapsible list
| title = Murphy
|{{legend|#ffccaaff|Murphy—30–40%}}
|{{legend|#ffb380ff|Murphy—40–50%}}
}}
]]
{{Election box begin no change
| title = Democratic primary results{{Cite web|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/103231/web.247524/#/detail/80|title=GOVERNOR - DEM|access-date= June 9, 2020|publisher=Secretary of State of West Virginia}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ben Salango
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 74,805
| percentage = 38.68%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Stephen Smith
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 65,544
| percentage = 33.89%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Ron Stollings
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 25,782
| percentage = 13.33%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Jody Murphy
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 18,039
| percentage = 9.33%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Douglas Hughes
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 9,231
| percentage = 4.77%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 193,401
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box end}}
Other candidates
=Mountain Party=
The Mountain Party received over 5% of the vote in 2016 with former State Senator and Delegate Charlotte Pritt as the party's gubernatorial nominee. The party nominates its candidate for governor by convention per its bylaws.{{cite web|url=https://mountainpartywv.net/bylaws/|title=Constitution and Bylaws of the West Virginia Mountain Party|date=11 November 2019 |publisher=Mountain Party|access-date=June 20, 2020}}
==Nominee==
- Daniel Lutz, Eastern Panhandle Conservation District Supervisor representing Jefferson County, and commissioned U.S. Air Force veteran{{cite web|url=https://mountainpartywv.net/2020/06/20/mountain-party-nominates-danny-lutz-for-governor/|title=Mountain Party Nominates Danny Lutz For Governor|publisher=Mountain Party|date=June 20, 2020|access-date=June 20, 2020}}
==Endorsements==
{{Endorsements box
| title = Daniel Lutz
| list =
Organizations
- Eastern Panhandle Green Coalition, environmental organization
- Jefferson County Vision, sustainability organization{{cite web|url=https://jeffersoncountyvision.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/2020-General-Election-Guide.pdf|title=2020 General Election Guide|access-date=October 22, 2020}}
}}
=Libertarian Party=
==Nominee==
=Write-ins=
The following candidates were certified write-in candidates.{{cite web|url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/Write-In%20State.pdf|title=List Of Candidates For 11/03/2020 -- GENERAL 2020|publisher=West Virginia Secretary of State|access-date=October 12, 2020|archive-date=October 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016213235/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/Write-In%20State.pdf|url-status=dead}}
==Declared==
- Quintin Gerard Caldwell
- Michael Folk, former State Delegate (sought the nomination of the Republican Party)
- Kimberly Gross
- Mitch Roberts
- Marshall Wilson, State Delegate (Independent){{cite web|url=https://www.localdvm.com/news/west-virginia/delegate-marshall-wilson-running-for-governor-of-west-virginia/|title=Delegate Marshall Wilson running for Governor of West Virginia|publisher=WDVM-TV|date=June 12, 2020|access-date=September 7, 2020}}
General election
=Predictions=
=Endorsements=
{{Endorsements box
|title=Ben Salango (D)
|list=
Federal politicians
- Joe Manchin, U.S. Senator (WV)
Individuals
- Jennifer Garner, actress{{cite web |date=September 17, 2020 |title=Ben Salango hosts Facebook Live with Jennifer Garner to discuss issues in W.Va.|url=https://www.wsaz.com/2020/09/18/ben-salango-hosts-facebook-live-with-jennifer-garner-to-discuss-issues-in-wva/|publisher=WSAZ News}}
- Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Allen E. Tackett, former West Virginia National Guard adjutant general (1995-2010)
Organizations
- United Mine Workers of America{{cite web |title=Ben Salango on Twitter: I am honored to have the endorsement of Cecil Roberts and the @MineWorkers. |url=https://twitter.com/BenSalango/status/1317136024447946752 |website=Twitter |language=en-gb}}
- West Virginia AFL–CIO
Newspapers
}}
=Polling=
{{Graph:Chart
| width=700
| height=400
| xAxisTitle=
| yAxisTitle=%support
| xAxisAngle = -40
| legend=Candidate
| interpolate = bundle
| size = 77
| xType = date
| y1Title=Jim Justice
| y2Title=Ben Salango
| y3Title=Daniel Lutz
| y4Title=Erika Kolenich
| y5Title=Other/Undecided
| type=line
|xGrid=
| x= 2020/09/14, 2020/09/30, 2020/09/30, 2020/10/06, 2020/10/21
| y1= 54, 46, 48, 53, 53
| y2= 27, 40, 38, 34, 35
| y3= 9, 5, 4, 2, 3
| y4= 9, , 4, 5, 3
| y5= 10, 8, 6, 6, 5
| colors = #E81B23, #3333FF, #17AA5C, #FED105, #DDDDDD
| showSymbols = 1
| yGrid = true
| linewidth = 2.0
}}
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |
| valign=bottom
! Poll source ! Date(s) ! Sample ! Margin ! style="width:100px;"| Jim ! style="width:100px;"| Ben ! style="width:100px;"| Daniel ! style="width:100px;"| Erika ! Undecided |
| style="text-align:left;"|Triton Polling and Research[https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/20398833/201021-triton-west-virgina-survey-topline-results.pdf Triton Polling and Research]
|October 19–21, 2020 |544 (LV) |± 4.2% |{{party shading/Republican}}|53% |35% |3% |3% |5% |
| style="text-align:left;"|Research America Inc.[https://wvmetronews.com/2020/10/09/justice-has-wide-lead-over-salango-west-virginia-poll-shows/ Research America Inc.]
|October 1–6, 2020 |450 (LV) |± 4.6% |{{party shading/Republican}}|53% |34% |2% |5% |6% |
| style="text-align:left;"|Triton Polling & Research[https://www.wowktv.com/news/elections/poll-shows-incumbents-leading-races-for-surveyed-wv-voters/ Triton Polling & Research]
|September 29–30, 2020{{efn|Additional data sourced from FiveThirtyEight}} |525 (RV) |± 4.3% |{{party shading/Republican}}|48% |38% |4% |4% |6% |
| style="text-align:left;"|Strategies Unlimited[https://www.newsandsentinel.com/news/local-news/2020/10/second-poll-shows-even-tighter-race-for-west-virginia-governor/ Strategies Unlimited]{{efn-ua|Poll sponsored by West Virginia First, which opposed Jim Justice's reelection bid prior to this poll's sampling period.}}
|September 26–30, 2020 |600 (LV) |± 4% |{{party shading/Republican}}|46% |40% |5% | – |8% |
| style="text-align:left;"|Mark Blankenship Enterprises (R)[https://www.newsandsentinel.com/opinion/local-columns/2020/09/reporters-notebook-you-cant-please-everyone/ Mark Blankenship Enterprises (R)]{{efn|Poll sponsored by Justice's campaign.}}
|September 10–14, 2020 | 504 (LV) | ± 4.3% |{{party shading/Republican}}|54% |27% | colspan="2"|9%{{efn|Split between Danny Lutz (M) and Erika Kolenich (L)}} | 10% |
{{hidden begin|titlestyle=background:#cff|title=Hypothetical polling|contentstyle=border:solid 1px silver; padding:8px; background:white;}}
Jim Justice vs. Joe Manchin
| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%;text-align:center;" |
| valign=bottom
! Poll source ! Date(s) ! Sample ! Margin ! style="width:100px;"| Jim ! style="width:100px;"| Joe ! Other / |
| style="text-align:left;"|Research America/MetroNews[http://wvmetronews.com/2019/08/30/west-virginia-poll-if-manchin-gets-in-right-now-he-would-beat-justice/ Research America/MetroNews]
| August 14–22, 2019 | 501 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 39% | {{party shading/Democratic}}| 49% | 12% |
{{hidden end}}
=Results=
{{Election box begin
| title = West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2020{{cite web |title=November 3, 2020 General Election - Official Results |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/WV/106210/web.264614/#/summary |website=West Virginia State - Clarity Elections |access-date=November 30, 2020}}{{cite web |title=2020 General Election Write-in Candidate Results |url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/HistElecDocs/2020/2020%20General%20Write-in%20Results.pdf|website=West Virginia Secretary of State |access-date=April 6, 2021}}
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
| candidate = Jim Justice (incumbent)
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 497,944
| percentage = 63.49%
| change = +21.19%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| candidate = Ben Salango
| party = Democratic Party (United States)
| votes = 237,024
| percentage = 30.22%
| change = -18.87%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| candidate = Erika Kolenich
| party = Libertarian Party (United States)
| votes = 22,527
| percentage = 2.87%
| change = +0.72%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party no link
| candidate = S. Marshall Wilson (write-in)
| party = Americans Coming Together Party
| votes = 15,120
| percentage = 1.93%
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
| candidate = Daniel Lutz
| party = Mountain Party
| votes = 11,309
| percentage = 1.44%
| change = -4.45%
}}
{{Election box write-in with party link
| votes = 363
| percentage = 0.05%
| change = N/A
}}
{{Election box total
| votes = 784,287
| percentage = 100.00%
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 802,726
|percentage = 63.25%
|change =
}}
{{Election box registered electors
|reg. electors = 1,269,219
}}
{{Election box hold with party link no swing
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}
==Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican==
- Cabell (largest city: Huntington)
- Calhoun (largest city: Grantsville)
- Clay (largest city: Clay)
- Gilmer (largest city: Glenville)
- Greenbrier (largest city: Lewisburg)
- Jackson (largest city: Ravenswood)
- Marshall (largest city: Moundsville)
- Mason (largest city: Point Pleasant)
- Monongalia (largest city: Morgantown)
- Monroe (largest city: Peterstown)
- Nicholas (largest city: Summersville)
- Ohio (largest city: Wheeling)
- Pendleton (largest city: Franklin)
- Pleasants (largest city: St. Marys)
- Pocahontas (largest city: Marlinton)
- Raleigh (largest city: Beckley)
- Randolph (largest city: Elkins)
- Roane (largest city: Spencer)
- Summers (largest city: Hinton)
- Wayne (largest city: Kenova)
- Wetzel (largest city: New Martinsville)
- Harrison (largest city: Clarksburg)
- Kanawha (largest city: Charleston)
- Lincoln (largest city: Hamlin)
- Wyoming (largest city: Mullens)
- Brooke (largest borough: Wellsburg)
- Fayette (largest city: Fayetteville)
- Logan (largest borough: Logan)
- Mingo (largest borough: Williamson)
- Boone (largest city: Madison)
- Braxton (largest town: Sutton)
- Marion (largest city: Fairmont)
- McDowell (largest city: Welch)
- Webster (largest town: Webster Springs)
- Wirt (largest municipality: Elizabeth)
- Putnam (largest municipality: Hurricane)
- Wood (largest municipality: Parkersburg)
==By congressional district==
Justice won all three congressional districts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=861169|title=Our Campaigns - WV Governor Race - Nov 03, 2020|website=www.ourcampaigns.com|accessdate=August 18, 2024}}
| class=wikitable |
| District
! Justice ! Salango ! Representative |
|---|
| align=center
! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|West Virginia|1|1st}} | 64% | 30% | {{party shading/Republican}}|David McKinley |
| align=center
! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|West Virginia|2|2nd}} | 59% | 33% | {{party shading/Republican}}|Alex Mooney |
| align=center
! {{party shading/Republican}}|{{ushr|West Virginia|3|3rd}} | 68% | 27% | {{party shading/Republican}}|Carol Miller |
Notes
{{notelist}}
Partisan clients
{{notelist-ua}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{citation |author= Government Documents Round Table of the American Library Association |work=Voting & Elections Toolkits |url= https://godort.libguides.com/votingtoolkit/westvirginia |title= West Virginia }}
- {{citation |work=Vote.org |location=Oakland, CA |url= https://www.vote.org/state/west-virginia/ |title= West Virginia: Election Tools, Deadlines, Dates, Rules, and Links }}
- {{cite web |title= League of Women Voters of West Virginia |url= https://www.lwv.org/local-leagues/find-local-league }} (state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
- {{Ballotpedia|West_Virginia|West Virginia}}
Official campaign websites
- {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20191029194128/https://justiceforwv.com/ Jim Justice (R) for Governor]}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20201031202717/https://www.bensalango.com/ Ben Salango (D) for Governor]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20201022044721/https://dannyforwv.nationbuilder.com/ Daniel Lutz (M) for Governor]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20201101091710/https://kolenichforwv.com/ Erika Kolenich (L) for Governor]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20201101002444/https://folk4wv.com/ Michael Folk (I) for Governor]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20200917222810/https://www.marshallforwv.com/ S. Marshall Wilson (I) for Governor]
{{West Virginia gubernatorial elections}}
{{2020 United States elections}}