Biggest governor landslides in West Virginia
The biggest landslide in a West Virginia governor’s race was in 2008, a margin of 44.1 points. Joe Manchin III beat Russ Weeks, 492,697 to 181,612. Next widest are 2020 (33.3 points) and 1976 (32.3 points).
Every state is ranked together on Biggest governor landslides. For every gubernatorial race West Virginia has held, special elections included, see the West Virginia governor hub.
What is the biggest landslide in a West Virginia governor’s race?
The widest margin in a West Virginia gubernatorial general election came in 2008, 44.1 points. Joe Manchin III beat Russ Weeks, 492,697 to 181,612. Next are 2020 (33.3 points) and 1976 (32.3 points).
Why do some huge wins not appear?
A blowout only counts here when somebody real finished second, which means at least 5% of the vote. Without that rule the list fills with uncontested races and with contests where the record is simply missing the major opponent, both of which show the winner near 100%.
Does this include recalls and special elections?
No, only regular general elections for governor. The West Virginia governor hub lists every race including specials and recalls.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2008 | Joe Manchin III D def. Russ Weeks R | 492,697 – 181,612 | +44.1 points |
| 2 | 2020 | Jim Justice R def. Ben Salango D | 497,944 – 237,024 | +33.3 points |
| 3 | 1976 | Jay Rockefeller D def. Cecil H. Underwood R | 495,661 – 253,420 | +32.3 points |
| 4 | 2024 | Patrick Morrisey R def. Steve Williams D | 459,300 – 233,976 | +30.4 points |
| 5 | 2004 | Joe Manchin III D def. Monty Warner R | 472,758 – 253,131 | +29.5 points |
| 6 | 1992 | Gaston Caperton D def. Cleve Benedict R | 368,302 – 240,390 | +19.4 points |
| 7 | 1936 | Homer Holt D def. Summers Sharp R | 492,333 – 339,890 | +18.3 points |
| 8 | 1988 | Gaston Caperton D def. Arch A. Moore Jr. R | 382,421 – 267,172 | +17.8 points |
| 9 | 1866 | Arthur I. Boreman R def. Benjamin H. Smith D | 23,802 – 17,158 | +16.2 points |
| 10 | 1948 | Okey Patteson D def. Herbert Stephenson Boreman R | 438,752 – 329,309 | +14.2 points |
| 11 | 1880 | Jacob B. Jackson D def. George Cookman Sturgiss R | 60,991 – 44,855 | +13.6 points |
| 12 | 1940 | Matthew M. Neely D def. Daniel Boone Dawson R | 496,028 – 383,698 | +12.8 points |
| 13 | 1876 | Henry M. Mathews D def. Nathan Goff Jr. R | 56,206 – 43,477 | +12.7 points |
| 14 | 1920 | Ephraim F. Morgan R def. Arthur B. Koontz D | 242,237 – 185,662 | +11.0 points |
| 15 | 1964 | Hulett C. Smith D def. Cecil H. Underwood R | 433,023 – 355,559 | +9.8 points |
| 16 | 1972 | Arch A. Moore Jr. R def. Jay Rockefeller D | 423,817 – 350,462 | +9.5 points |
| 17 | 1868 | William E. Stevenson R def. Johnson N. Camden D | 26,935 – 22,358 | +9.3 points |
| 18 | 1944 | Clarence W. Meadows D def. Daniel Boone Dawson R | 395,122 – 330,649 | +8.9 points |
| 19 | 1980 | Jay Rockefeller D def. Arch A. Moore Jr. R | 401,863 – 337,240 | +8.7 points |
| 20 | 1900 | Albert B. White R def. John H. Holt D | 118,798 – 100,233 | +8.4 points |
| 21 | 1960 | Wally Barron D def. Harold E. Neely R | 446,755 – 380,665 | +8.0 points |
| 22 | 1932 | Herman G. Kump D def. Thomas Chasteene Townsend R | 402,316 – 342,660 | +8.0 points |
| 23 | 1956 | Cecil H. Underwood R def. Bob Mollohan D | 440,502 – 377,131 | +7.8 points |
| 24 | 1928 | William G. Conley R def. J. Alfred Taylor D | 345,729 – 296,637 | +7.6 points |
| 25 | 1924 | Howard Mason Gore R def. Jake Fisher D | 302,987 – 261,846 | +7.2 points |