{{Short description|none}} {{Use American English|date=January 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}{{Infobox election | election_name = 2016 West Virginia elections | country = West Virginia | type = presidential | ongoing = no | previous_election = 2014 West Virginia elections | previous_year = 2014 | next_election = 2018 West Virginia elections | next_year = 2018 | registered = | turnout = | election_date = {{Start date|2016|11|06}} }} {{Elections in West Virginia}} West Virginia held elections on November 8, 2016. Elections for the United States House, as well as for several statewide offices including the governorship were held. These elections were held concurrently with the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other elections nationwide. Primary elections were held on May 10, 2016.
== Federal offices ==
=== President === {{main|2016 United States presidential election in West Virginia}} {{See also|2016 West Virginia Democratic presidential primary|2016 West Virginia Republican presidential primary}}Republican Donald Trump easily carried West Virginia, capturing 68.5% of the vote and sweeping every county in the state, his strongest vote share in the nation.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Presidential election in West Virginia, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/Presidential_election_in_West_Virginia,_2016|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref>
=== House of Representatives === {{main|2016 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia}} All 3 Incumbent Republican U.S. Representatives were easily reelected, all increasing their vote share compared to 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|title=United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections_in_West_Virginia,_2016|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref>
== Governor == {{main|2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election}} Incumbent Democrat Earl Ray Tomblin was term-limited from running again in 2016. State Senate President Bill Cole ran unopposed in the Republican primary contest, while businessman Jim Justice defeated multiple opponents in the Democratic primary contest. The state's Republican trend, coupled with past scandals surrounding Justice's unpaid taxes and business controversies, made the race extremely competitive. Justice went on to narrowly win the election, capturing 49.1% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_gubernatorial_election,_2016|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref> Justice would go on to switch party affiliation just months after being in office, announcing he would become a Republican at an August 4, 2017 rally with President Trump.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kabler|first=Phil|title=WV Gov. Justice switching political parties, returning to GOP|url=https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/wv-gov-justice-switching-political-parties-returning-to-gop/article_f4e0e12a-d5a8-53f0-973f-2a8a3bc35e02.html|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Charleston Gazette-Mail|date=August 3, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
== State Legislature ==
=== State senate === {{Main|2016 West Virginia Senate election}} 18 of the 34 State Senate seats were up for election in 2016, with 3 Democrats and 1 Republican incumbents not running for reelection. Republicans won a net gain of 4 seats, increasing their majority in the state senate from 18 to 22 seats.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Virginia State Senate elections, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_State_Senate_elections,_2016|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref>
=== House of Delegates === {{Main|2016 West Virginia House of Delegates election}} All 100 seats in the West Virginia House of Delegates were up for election, with 13 Republican and 8 Democratic incumbents not running for reelection. The Republican majority sustained a net loss of 1 seat, decreasing the majority from 64 seats to 63.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Virginia House of Delegates elections, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_House_of_Delegates_elections,_2016|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref> This soon changed when Democrat Rupert Phillips Jr. switched party affiliation to Independent in January 2017, and then to Republican in May 2017 reestablishing the 64–36 majority from 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Johnson|first=Shauna|date=2017-01-26|title=Logan County delegate leaves Democratic Party|url=https://wvmetronews.com/2017/01/26/logan-county-delegate-leaves-democratic-party/|access-date=2021-01-06|website=WV MetroNews|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Attorney General == {{Infobox election | election_name = 2016 West Virginia Attorney General election | country = West Virginia | type = presidential | ongoing = no | previous_election = 2012 West Virginia elections#Attorney General | previous_year = 2012 | next_election = 2020 West Virginia Attorney General election | next_year = 2020 | election_date = | image1 = Patrick Morrisey by Gage Skidmore.jpg | nominee1 = '''Patrick Morrisey''' | party1 = Republican Party (United States) | popular_vote1 = '''358,424''' | percentage1 = '''51.6%''' | image2 = 3x4.svg | nominee2 = Doug Reynolds | party2 = Democratic Party (United States) | popular_vote2 = 291,232 | percentage2 = 41.9% | map_image = {{switcher | 250px | County results | 250px | Congressional district results }} | map_caption = '''Morrisey:''' {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}}<br />'''Reynolds:''' {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} | title = Attorney General | before_election = Patrick Morrisey | before_party = Republican Party (United States) | after_election = Patrick Morrisey | after_party = Republican Party (United States) }}
Republican incumbent Patrick Morrisey successfully sought re-election, defeating Delegate Doug Reynolds, and capturing 51.63% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Virginia Attorney General election, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_Attorney_General_election,_2016|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref>
=== Republican primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Patrick Morrisey (incumbent)|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=157,369|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box total no change|votes=157,369|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
=== Democratic primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Democratic primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Doug Reynolds|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=187,786|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box total no change|votes=187,786|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
=== General election === {{Election box begin no change|title=General election results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Patrick Morrisey (incumbent)|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=358,424|percentage=51.63}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Doug Reynolds|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=291,232|percentage=41.95}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Karl Kolenich|votes=24,023|percentage=3.46}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Mountain Party|candidate=Michael Sharley|votes=20,475|percentage=2.95}} {{Election box total no change|votes=694,154|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
== Secretary of State == {{main|2016 West Virginia Secretary of State election}}
Republican challenger Mac Warner defeated incumbent Democrat Natalie Tennant who had held the position since 2009. He captured 48.52% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Virginia Secretary of State election, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_Secretary_of_State_election,_2016|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref> Warner was re-elected Secretary of State in 2020 in a rematch with Tennant.
=== Republican primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Mac Warner|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=105,800|percentage=63.33}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=West Virginia Republican Party|candidate=Barry Holstein|votes=61,271|percentage=36.67}} {{Election box total no change|votes=167,071|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
=== Democratic primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Democratic primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Natalie Tennant (incumbent)|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=192,176|percentage=77.18}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|candidate=Patsy Trecost|votes=56,832|percentage=22.82}} {{Election box total no change|votes=249,008|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
=== General election === {{Election box begin no change|title=General election results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Mac Warner|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=335,526|percentage=48.52}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Natalie Tennant (incumbent)|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=323,750|percentage=46.82}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=John S. Buckley|votes=32,179|percentage=4.65}} {{Election box total no change|votes=691,455|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
== Treasurer == {{main|2016 West Virginia State Treasurer election}}
Democratic incumbent John Perdue, who had held the West Virginia State Treasurer's position since 1996, was re-elected with 50.33% of the vote. He defeated Republican challenger and businesswoman Ann Urling. Perdue became the only Democrat to hold statewide executive office in West Virginia after Governor Justice's party switch in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Virginia Treasurer election, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_Treasurer_election,_2016|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref> As of 2025, this is the last time a Democrat has won an outright majority of the vote in a statewide election in West Virginia.
=== Republican primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Ann Urling|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=88,703|percentage=54.94}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=West Virginia Republican Party|candidate=Larry V. Faircloth|votes=72,741|percentage=45.06}} {{Election box total no change|votes=161,444|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
=== Democratic primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Democratic primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=John Perdue (incumbent)|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=208,203|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box total no change|votes=208,203|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
=== General election === {{Election box begin no change|title=General election results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=John Perdue (incumbent)|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=338,018|percentage=50.33}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Ann Urling|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=293,671|percentage=43.73}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Michael A. Young|votes=39,865|percentage=5.94}} {{Election box total no change|votes=671,554|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
== Auditor == {{Infobox election | election_name = 2016 West Virginia State Auditor election | type = presidential | ongoing = no | election_date = | country = West Virginia | previous_election = 2012 West Virginia elections#Auditor | previous_year = 2012 | next_election = 2020 West Virginia State Auditor election | next_year = 2020 | nominee1 = '''JB McCuskey''' | party1 = Republican Party (United States) | popular_vote1 = '''385,831''' | percentage1 = '''58.4%''' | image1 = John McCuskey by Gage Skidmore.jpg | nominee2 = Mary Ann Claytor | party2 = Democratic Party (United States) | popular_vote2 = 228,001 | percentage2 = 34.5% | image2 = 3x4.svg
| nominee3 = Brenton Ricketts | party3 = Libertarian Party (United States) | popular_vote3 = 45,908 | percentage3 = 6.9% | image3 = 3x4.svg | map_image = file:2016 West Virginia state auditor election results map by county.svg | map_size = 250px | map_caption = County results<br>'''McCuskey:''' {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#e27f7f|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#d72f30|70–80%}} | title = State Auditor | before_election = Lisa Hopkins (acting) | before_party = Democratic Party (United States) | after_election = JB McCuskey | after_party = Republican Party (United States) }}
Republican JB McCuskey was elected with 58.48% of the vote over Democrat Mary Ann Claytor. This marks the first time since 1928 that a Republican had won the office. The seat was open after the resignation of Democrat Glen Glainer III, who had held the office since 1992. In May 2016, Lisa Hopkins was appointed as interim Auditor until the election.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Virginia Auditor election, 2016|url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_Auditor_election,_2016|access-date=2021-01-06|website=Ballotpedia|language=en}}</ref>
=== Republican primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=JB McCuskey|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=149,793|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box total no change|votes=149,793|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
=== Democratic primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Democratic primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Mary Ann Claytor|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=93,790|percentage=43.95}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|candidate=Jason Pizatella|votes=73,371|percentage=34.38}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|candidate=Robin Righter|votes=46,257|percentage=21.67}} {{Election box total no change|votes=213,418|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
=== General election === {{Election box begin no change|title=General election results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=JB McCuskey|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=385,831|percentage=58.48}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Mary Ann Claytor|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=228,001|percentage=34.56}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Brenton Ricketts|votes=45,908|percentage=6.96}} {{Election box total no change|votes=659,740|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
== Commissioner of Agriculture == {{main|2016 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election}} thumb|{{collapsible list | title = {{legend|#E38080|Leonhardt}}|{{legend|#FFB3B3|40–50%}}|{{legend|#E38080|50–60%}}|{{legend|#D85D5D|60–70%}} }}{{collapsible list | title = {{legend|#7A97E3|Helmick}}|{{legend|#A6B1FF|40–50%}}|{{legend|#7A97E3|50–60%}}|{{legend|#6675DF|60–70%}} }} Elected in 2012, incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Walt Helmick was defeated by Republican challenger Kent Leonhardt.<ref>{{Cite web |title=West Virginia Agriculture Commissioner election, 2016 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/West_Virginia_Agriculture_Commissioner_election,_2016 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
=== Republican primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Republican primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Kent Leonhardt|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=147,782|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box total no change|votes=147,782|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
=== Democratic primary === {{Election box begin no change|title=Democratic primary results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Walt Helmick (incumbent)|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=194,220|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box total no change|votes=194,220|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}{{Election box begin no change|title=General election results}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|candidate=Kent Leonhardt|party=West Virginia Republican Party|votes=321,560|percentage=48.41}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|candidate=Walt Helmick (incumbent)|party=West Virginia Democratic Party|votes=274,191|percentage=41.28}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Libertarian Party (United States)|candidate=Buddy A. Guthrie|votes=68,502|percentage=10.31}} {{Election box total no change|votes=664,253|percentage=100.00}} {{Election box end}}
== Supreme Court of Appeals ==
{{Infobox election | election_name = 2016 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election | country = West Virginia | type = Presidential | ongoing = no | previous_election = 2012 West Virginia elections#Supreme Court of Appeals | previous_year = 2012 | next_election = 2020 West Virginia elections#Supreme Court of Appeals | next_year = 2020 | previous_seat_election = 2004 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election | previous_seat_year = 2004 | next_seat_year = 2026 (special) | next_seat_election = 2026 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election | election_date = May 10, 2016 | turnout = | image1 = | image_size = | nominee1 = '''Beth Walker''' | color1 = c0c0c0 | popular_vote1 = '''162,245''' | percentage1 = '''39.62%''' | image2 = | nominee2 = Darrell McGraw | color2 = c0c0c0 | popular_vote2 = 94,538 | percentage2 = 23.08% | image4 = | nominee4 = William R. Wooton | color4 = c0c0c0 | popular_vote4 = 84,641 | percentage4 = 20.67% | image5 = | nominee5 = Brent Benjamin | color5 = c0c0c0 | popular_vote5 = 51,064 | percentage5 = 12.47% | map_image = | map_size = | map_caption = | title = Justice | before_election = Brent Benjamin | after_election = Beth Walker }}
Previously before the election, the Republican-controlled West Virginia Legislature passed a law in 2015 making the election of judges non-partisan. The bill was signed into law by Democratic governor Earl Ray Tomblin, making this the first non-partisan West Virginia Supreme Court election in history. As there were no primaries for Justices to run in to become the nominee of a party, the elections were held during the statewide primary elections, usually held in May, instead of the general elections in November.
Originally elected in 2004, incumbent Justice Brent Benjamin lost re-election to another 12 year term on the Supreme Court of Appeals to Beth Walker, a Morgantown attorney and former candidate for the court in 2008. Walker became the first Supreme Court Justice ever elected in a non-partisan race.
===Results=== {{Election box begin no change | title=May 10, 2016 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals election}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change|party=Non-partisan democracy|candidate=Beth Walker|votes=162,245|percentage=39.62%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Non-partisan democracy|candidate=Darrell McGraw|votes=94,538|percentage=23.08%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Non-partisan democracy|candidate=William R. Wooton|votes=84,641|percentage=20.67%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Non-partisan democracy|candidate=Brent Benjamin (incumbent)|votes=51,064|percentage=12.47%}} {{Election box candidate with party link no change|party=Non-partisan democracy|candidate=Wayne King|votes=17,054|percentage=4.16%}} {{Election box total no change|votes=409,542|percentage=100.00%}} {{Election box end}}
== References == {{reflist}} {{2016 United States elections}}
Category:2016 West Virginia elections