The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the three U.S. representatives from West Virginia, one from each of the state's three congressional districts. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 113th Congress from January 2013 until January 2015. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. A Senate election was also held on that date, during which incumbent Joe Manchin won re-election. , this is the last time that a Democrat won a U.S. House seat in West Virginia.
Overview DistrictRepublicanDemocraticTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 133,809 62.48% 80,342 37.52% 214,151 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 2 158,206 69.77% 68,560 30.23% 226,766 100.0% Republican hold District 3 92,238 46.02% 108,199 53.98% 200,437 100.0% Democratic hold Total 384,253 59.91% 257,101 40.09% 641,354 100.0%
Redistricting In August 2011, the West Virginia Legislature passed a redistricting plan which would make only minor changes to the state's congressional districts. Under the new map, Mason County is moved from the 2nd district to the 3rd district, while the 1st district is unchanged. Governor Earl Ray Tomblin signed the map into law on August 18.
District 1 Republican David McKinley, who has represented West Virginia's 1st congressional district since January 2011, ran for re-election.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee David McKinley, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Sue Thorn, former community organizer
Declined Tim Manchin, state delegate and cousin of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin Alan Mollohan, former U.S. Representative Mike Oliverio, former state senator and nominee for this seat in 2010
Primary results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 2 Republican Shelley Moore Capito, who has represented West Virginia's 2nd congressional district since 2001, ran for reelection.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Shelley Moore Capito, incumbent U.S. Representative
Eliminated in primary Michael Davis, retired school teacher Jonathan Miller, state delegate
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Howard Swint, commercial property leasing manager and opinion writer
Eliminated in primary Dugald Brown, IT specialist William McCann, slot machine technician
Declined Thornton Cooper, lawyer
Primary results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 3 Democrat Nick Rahall, who had represented West Virginia's 3rd congressional district since 1993, ran for reelection.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Nick Rahall, incumbent U.S. Representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Rick Snuffer, state delegate and nominee for this seat in 2004
Eliminated in primary Lee Bias Bill Lester
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
References
External links Elections Division at the West Virginia Secretary of State United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2012 at Ballotpedia West Virginia U.S. House from OurCampaigns.com Campaign contributions for U.S. Congressional races in West Virginia from OpenSecrets Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation