West Virginia gubernatorial election, 2004
Encyclopedia
The 2004 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2004 for the post of Governor of West Virginia. Democratic
Secretary of State of West Virginia
Joe Manchin
defeated Republican
Monty Warner.
became the first governor of West Virginia
not to stand for re-election since the Constitution of West Virginia
was amended in 1970 to permit two consecutive terms. In August 2003 he announced that he would not stand again after admitting to an affair with a state employee.
West Virginia Secretary of State Joe Manchin challenged Wise for the Democratic nomination
, and after Wise withdrew from the race he became favorite for the primary
. Manchin lined up support from various sources including labour leaders in order to reverse his defeat in the gubernatorial primary in 1996. His main opponent in the primary was former State Senator
Lloyd Jackson
, who launched his campaign with a plan to reduce insurance
costs. In the run up to the primary the two candidates traded negative advertising but Manchin won an easy victory in the primary on May 11.
and developer, Rob Capehart, a former state tax secretary, and Dan Moore, a former banker and car dealer. A poll conducted during the lead-up to the primary showed the three candidates virtually even. Warner won a narrow victory in the primary over Moore and Capehart.
George W. Bush
for re-election over his Democratic rival John Kerry
. Manchin's campaign spokesperson
responded that Manchin backed "the Democratic nominee".
The two main candidates faced each other in three debates and one town hall meeting
. Jesse Johnson
, the Mountain Party
candidate, unsuccessfully attempted to get the West Virginia Supreme Court
to cancel the first debate, as he was not asked to take part.
Manchin had an edge in the election with better name recognition
and a strong financial advantage over Warner. In the closing weeks of the election campaign, Manchin spent $3.3 million against $880,000 by Warner.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Secretary of State of West Virginia
Secretary of State of West Virginia
The Secretary of State of West Virginia is one of the elected constitutional officers of the U.S. state of West Virginia.The current Secretary of State, Natalie Tennant , was elected in November 2008 and assumed the office in January 2009....
Joe Manchin
Joe Manchin
Joseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
defeated Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Monty Warner.
Candidates
- Joe ManchinJoe ManchinJoseph "Joe" Manchin III is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010...
, West Virginia Secretary of State, 1996 Democratic candidate for Governor - Lloyd M. Jackson II, former West Virginia State Senator
- Jim Lees, attorney
- Lacy W. Wright, Jr., former West Virginia State Senator
- Jerry Baker
- James A. Baughman, former West Virginia State Senator
- Phillip Frye
- Louis J. Davis
Campaign
Democratic governor Bob WiseBob Wise
Robert Ellsworth "Bob" Wise, Jr. is an American politician. A Democrat, Wise served as the 33rd Governor of West Virginia from January 2001 to January 2005.-Early life:...
became the first governor of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
not to stand for re-election since the Constitution of West Virginia
West Virginia Constitution
The Constitution of the State of West Virginia is the supreme law of the U.S. State of West Virginia. It expresses the rights of the State's citizens and provides the framework for the organization of law and government. The state's founding document was ratified in 1862, a year before the state...
was amended in 1970 to permit two consecutive terms. In August 2003 he announced that he would not stand again after admitting to an affair with a state employee.
West Virginia Secretary of State Joe Manchin challenged Wise for the Democratic nomination
Nomination
Nomination is part of the process of selecting a candidate for either election to an office, or the bestowing of an honor or award.In the context of elections for public office, a candidate who has been selected by a political party is normally said to be the nominee of that party...
, and after Wise withdrew from the race he became favorite for the primary
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
. Manchin lined up support from various sources including labour leaders in order to reverse his defeat in the gubernatorial primary in 1996. His main opponent in the primary was former State Senator
West Virginia Senate
The West Virginia Senate is the upper house of the West Virginia Legislature.There are 17 senatorial districts. Each district has two senators who serve staggered four-year terms....
Lloyd Jackson
Lloyd G. Jackson
Lloyd G. Jackson was the Democratic President of the West Virginia Senate from Lincoln County and served from 1969 to 1971. Until his death he resided in Hamlin, West Virginia. He was married to Pauline Adkins and they had two children, Lloyd Jackson II and Suzanne Jackson...
, who launched his campaign with a plan to reduce insurance
Insurance
In law and economics, insurance is a form of risk management primarily used to hedge against the risk of a contingent, uncertain loss. Insurance is defined as the equitable transfer of the risk of a loss, from one entity to another, in exchange for payment. An insurer is a company selling the...
costs. In the run up to the primary the two candidates traded negative advertising but Manchin won an easy victory in the primary on May 11.
Results
Candidates
- Monty Warner, businessman
- Dan Moore, banker and car dealership owner
- Rob Capehart, former West Virginia Secretary of Tax and Revenue
- Richard Robb, Mayor of South CharlestonSouth Charleston, West VirginiaSouth Charleston is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, U.S. The population was 13,450 at the 2010 census. South Charleston was established in 1906, but not incorporated until 1919 by special charter enacted by the West Virginia Legislature...
- Douglas McKinney, doctor
- Larry V. Faircloth, West Virginia State DelegateWest Virginia House of DelegatesThe West Virginia House of Delegates is the lower house of the West Virginia Legislature. Only three states—Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia—refer to their lower house as the House of Delegates.-Historical:-Current:-District organization:...
- Joseph Oliverio, construction executive
- James D. Radcliffe, Jr.
- Charles D. Railey
- Carroll B. Bowden, Sr.
Campaign
The Republican primary saw 10 candidates competing for the nomination. Six of the candidates met in a debate in March 2004, in which they agreed on the need to reduce the size of the West Virginia state government. It saw a close race between three main candidates: Monty Warner, a retired army colonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and developer, Rob Capehart, a former state tax secretary, and Dan Moore, a former banker and car dealer. A poll conducted during the lead-up to the primary showed the three candidates virtually even. Warner won a narrow victory in the primary over Moore and Capehart.
Results
Campaign
Early in the campaign, Warner called for Manchin, as a centrist Democrat, to endorse PresidentPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
for re-election over his Democratic rival John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
. Manchin's campaign spokesperson
Spokesman
A spokesperson or spokesman or spokeswoman is someone engaged or elected to speak on behalf of others.In the present media-sensitive world, many organizations are increasingly likely to employ professionals who have received formal training in journalism, communications, public relations and...
responded that Manchin backed "the Democratic nominee".
The two main candidates faced each other in three debates and one town hall meeting
Town hall meeting
A town hall meeting is an American English term given to an informal public meeting. Everybody in a town community is invited to attend, not always to voice their opinions, but to hear the responses from public figures and elected officials about shared subjects of interest. Attendees rarely voted...
. Jesse Johnson
Jesse Johnson (politician)
Jesse C. Johnson, Jr. is an Executive Committee member and former chair of the environmentalist Mountain Party, the West Virginia affiliate of the Green Party. He has twice been his party's candidate for Governor of West Virginia, and once for a Senate seat...
, the Mountain Party
Mountain Party
The Mountain Party is a political party in the state of West Virginia that on July 8, 2007, at its state convention, voted to become the West Virginia affiliate of the Green Party. At the 2007 Green Party National Meeting the party was admitted to the Green Party as a state affiliate. It is a...
candidate, unsuccessfully attempted to get the West Virginia Supreme Court
Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia is the state supreme court of West Virginia, the highest of West Virginia's state courts. It is located in the state capital, Charleston....
to cancel the first debate, as he was not asked to take part.
Manchin had an edge in the election with better name recognition
Name recognition
Name recognition is a concept used in politics to describe the number of people who are aware of a politician. It is considered an important factor in elections, as candidates with low name recognition are unlikely to receive votes from people who only casually follow politics. Name recognition is...
and a strong financial advantage over Warner. In the closing weeks of the election campaign, Manchin spent $3.3 million against $880,000 by Warner.