Closest U.S. Senate elections in West Virginia
The closest U.S. Senate election in West Virginia history was in 1946, a margin of 0.66 points. Harley M. Kilgore beat Thomas Sweeney, 273,151 to 269,617. Next closest are 1978 (0.96 points) and 1928 (1.6 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race West Virginia has held, special elections included, see the West Virginia U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in West Virginia history?
The West Virginia Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1946, 0.66 points. Harley M. Kilgore beat Thomas Sweeney, 273,151 to 269,617. The next closest were 1978 (0.96 points) and 1928 (1.6 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for West Virginia’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the West Virginia Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first West Virginia election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1946 | Harley M. Kilgore D def. Thomas Sweeney R | 273,151 – 269,617 | 0.66 points |
| 2 | 1978 | Jennings Randolph D def. Arch A. Moore Jr. R | 249,034 – 244,317 | 0.96 points |
| 3 | 1928 | Henry D. Hatfield R def. Matthew M. Neely D | 327,666 – 317,620 | 1.6 points |
| 4 | 1916 | Howard Sutherland R def. William E. Chilton D | 144,243 – 138,585 | 2.0 points |
| 5 | 1924 | Guy D. Goff R def. William E. Chilton D | 290,004 – 271,809 | 3.2 points |
| 6 | 2018 | Joe Manchin III D def. Patrick Morrisey R | 288,808 – 269,872 | 3.3 points |
| 7 | 1922 | Matthew M. Neely D def. Howard Sutherland R | 198,853 – 185,046 | 3.6 points |
| 8 | 1984 | Jay Rockefeller D def. John R. Raese R | 374,233 – 344,680 | 4.1 points |
| 9 | 1952 | Harley M. Kilgore D def. Chapman Revercomb R | 470,019 – 406,554 | 7.2 points |
| 10 | 1918 | Davis Elkins R def. Clarence W. Watson D | 115,216 – 97,715 | 8.1 points |
| 11 | 1942 | Chapman Revercomb R def. Matthew M. Neely D | 41,486 – 34,503 | 9.2 points |
| 12 | 1954 | Matthew M. Neely D def. Thomas Sweeney R | 325,263 – 268,066 | 9.6 points |
| 13 | 1934 | Rush D. Holt D def. Henry D. Hatfield R | 349,882 – 281,756 | 10.7 points |
| 14 | 1940 | Harley M. Kilgore D def. Thomas Sweeney R | 492,413 – 381,806 | 12.7 points |
| 15 | 1948 | Matthew M. Neely D def. Chapman Revercomb R | 435,354 – 328,534 | 14.0 points |
| 16 | 1936 | Matthew M. Neely D def. Hugh I. Shott R | 488,620 – 338,363 | 18.1 points |
| 17 | 1958 | Robert C. Byrd D def. Chapman Revercomb R | 381,745 – 263,172 | 18.4 points |
| 18 | 1966 | Jennings Randolph D def. Francis J. Love R | 292,325 – 198,891 | 19.0 points |
| 19 | 1930 | Matthew M. Neely D def. James E. Jones R | 342,437 – 209,427 | 24.0 points |
| 20 | 2012 | Joe Manchin III D def. John R. Raese R | 399,898 – 240,787 | 24.1 points |
| 21 | 2002 | Jay Rockefeller D def. M. Jay Wolfe R | 275,281 – 160,902 | 26.2 points |
| 22 | 2008 | Jay Rockefeller D def. M. Jay Wolfe R | 447,560 – 254,629 | 27.5 points |
| 23 | 2014 | Shelley Moore Capito R def. Natalie Tennant D | 281,820 – 156,360 | 27.7 points |
| 24 | 1988 | Robert C. Byrd D def. M. Jay Wolfe R | 410,983 – 223,564 | 29.5 points |
| 25 | 1972 | Jennings Randolph D def. Louise Leonard R | 486,310 – 245,531 | 32.9 points |