Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: West Virginia Congressional Seats

October 31, 2012

By Ballotpedia's Congressional team

West Virginia's Congressional Elections in 2012
U.S. Senate Election?	U.S. House seats	Possible competitive races?
Yes	3	1 (3rd)

CHARLESTON: West Virginia: There are 3 U.S. House seats and 1 U.S. Senate seat on the ballot in West Virginia in 2012. Heading into general election on November 6, 2012, 100% of the congressional races are contested, meaning there are at least two candidates running in each of the 4 races.

U.S. Senate

Incumbent U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D) is running for re-election in 2012. Manchin was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, when he filled the seat left vacant by the late Robert Byrd.

Manchin easily defeated Sheirl Fletcher 80-20 for the Democratic nomination in the May 8th primary contest. He faces Republican candidate John Raese in the general election. The race is not considered competitive and is listed as Likely Democratic according to a Cook Political Report Race Rating from October 4, 2012.

U.S. House

Heading into the November 6 election, the Democratic Party holds 1 of the 3 Congressional seats from West Virginia. Of the 6 possible major party primaries (2 parties, 3 seats), 3 (50%) were contested, about the national average. The remaining 3 party primaries contained only one candidate. A highlight from the May 5th primaries includes:

• West Virginia's 3rd District is currently represented by Democrat Nick Rahall. He is running for re-election and faces Republican Rick Snuffer. Although, currently represented by a Democrat, according to FairVote, the partisan breakdown of the district lists it as being 60% Republican in 2012. According to the New York Times race ratings in October 2012, District 3 is considered to be in play.

In West Virginia, all polling places are open from 6:30 AM to 7:30 PM Eastern Time. See also: State Poll Opening and Closing Times (2012)

Here is a complete list of U.S. Senate and House candidates appearing on the general election ballot in West Virginia:

Candidates running by race

Senate

State	General Election Candidates	Incumbent	2012 Winner	Partisan Switch?
West Virginia Class 1 Senate seat	Nick Rahall Rick Snuffer	Nick Rahall	Pending	Pending

House

District	General Election Candidates	Incumbent	2012 Winner	Partisan Switch?
1st	Sue Thorn David McKinley	David McKinley	Pending	Pending
2nd	Howard Swint Shelley Moore Capito	Shelley Moore Capito	Pending	Pending
3rd	Nick Rahall Rick Snuffer	Nick Rahall	Pending	Pending

Partisan breakdown by district

Members of the U.S. House from West Virginia -- Partisan Breakdown
Party		As of November 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	1	1
	Republican Party	2	2
Total		3	3

Comparison of new and old redistricting maps

Congressional Redistricting Map, approved August 2011  For more information, view Redistricting in West Virginia.
This is the approved congressional map using the 2010 Census. This is the approved congressional map using the 2000 Census.

Articles

• 2012 elections preview: West Virginia voters to select winners in congressional, legislative primaries May 7
• 2012 elections review: Little surprise in West Virginia primaries May 9

See also

• Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: West Virginia State Executive Officials
• Ballotpedia's 2012 General Election Preview Articles: West Virginia State Legislature
  • United States Senate elections in West Virginia, 2012
• United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2012
  • West Virginia's 1st Congressional District elections, 2012
  • West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2012
  • West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District elections, 2012
• West Virginia elections, 2012
• National contested primary average during the 2012 U.S. congressional elections