Republican Party primaries in West Virginia, 2018

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Republican Party primaries, 2018

West Virginia Republican Party.jpg

Primary Date
May 8, 2018

Federal elections
Republican primary for U.S. Senate
Republican primaries for U.S. House

State elections
Republican primaries for West Virginia legislature

State party
Republican Party of West Virginia
State political party revenue


Among the races West Virginia Republicans voted on was a primary for the U.S. Senate seat held by Joe Manchin (D). As of the yearend 2017 campaign finance reports, the leader in overall fundraising was West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R), who had raised $1.4 million. Morrisey was followed by Rep. Evan Jenkins (R), who had raised $1.1 million, and by businessman Don Blankenship (R), who had raised $400,000.[1]

Voters also determined candidates for the state's three congressional districts. In West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District, a vacancy opened by Evan Jenkins' run for Senate has drawn seven declared candidates. As of the yearend campaign finance reports, the fundraising leader was state Del. Carol Miller (R), who had raised $290,000. Miller was followed by former Republican Party of West Virginia Chairman Conrad Lucas (R) with $140,000.[2]

This page focuses on the Republican primaries that took place in West Virginia on May 8, 2018. In addition, the page provides context for understanding the state party apparatus.

National background

Primary elections—in which registered voters select a candidate whom they believe should run on the party's ticket in the general election—can reflect internal conflict over the direction of a party.

Heading into the 2018 election, the Republican Party's legislative record during Donald Trump’s presidency figured into several Republican primaries. This record included the passage of major tax legislation in December 2017 and the confirmation of federal judges. It also included a $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill in March 2018, which Trump opposed, and unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.[3][4]

Trump, himself, also played a role in Republican primaries. His approval rating reached 90% in June among self-described Republicans, according to a Gallup survey.[5] Many Republican candidates campaigned on their support for Trump, and negative ads accusing opponents of criticizing the president were common.[6][7][8] A May report found Trump's name or image had appeared in 37% of all Republican campaign ads at that point in 2018.[9]


Battleground primaries

Battleground elections are those that Ballotpedia expected would either be more competitive than other races or attract significant national attention.

Federal elections

U.S. Senate

See also: United States Senate election in West Virginia (May 8, 2018 Republican primary)

U.S. House

See also: United States House elections in West Virginia (May 8, 2018 Republican primaries)

Candidate ballot access
Ballot Access Requirements Final.jpg

Find detailed information on ballot access requirements in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.

District 1

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 2

Republican Party Republican primary candidates

District 3

Republican Party Republican primary candidates


Candidate Connection = candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

There are no pivot counties in West Virginia. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won West Virginia with 68.5 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 26.4 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, West Virginia cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 76.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, West Virginia supported Democratic and Republican candidates for president equally. West Virginia favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in West Virginia. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[10][11]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won four out of 67 state House districts in West Virginia with an average margin of victory of 13.9 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won one out of 67 state House districts in West Virginia with an average margin of victory of 34.4 points.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 63 out of 67 state House districts in West Virginia with an average margin of victory of 31.9 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 66 out of 67 state House districts in West Virginia with an average margin of victory of 46.8 points.


State elections

West Virginia Party Control: 1992-2024
Nineteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Seven years of Republican trifectas

Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Governor D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D[12] R R R R R R R
Senate D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R
House D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R R R

State party overview

See also: Republican Party of West Virginia

State political party revenue

See also: State political party revenue and State political party revenue per capita

The Democratic Party and the Republican Party maintain state affiliates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and select U.S. territories. The following maps display total state political party revenue per capita for the Democratic and Republican state party affiliates from 2011 to 2016. The blue map displays Democratic state parties and the red map displays Republican state parties. Click on a state below to view the state party's revenue per capita totals:

Total Democratic and Republican state political party revenue per capita in the United States, 2011-2016


Primary election scheduling

West Virginia was one of four states to hold a primary election on May 8, 2018.

Voter information

How the primary works

A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. West Virginia utilizes a semi-closed primary system where parties may decide if unaffiliated voters can vote in their primaries.[13][14]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Poll times

In West Virginia, all polling places are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. A voter who is in line at the time polls close must still be permitted to vote.[15]

Registration requirements

Check your voter registration status here.

To vote in West Virginia, an individual must be a citizen of the United States, a resident of West Virginia, and at least 18 years of age by the date of the next general election.[16]

The registration deadline is 21 days prior to an election. An individual may register to vote by submitting a form by mail to his or her county clerk's office or the Secretary of State's Office. Registration can be completed online, in person at the county clerk's office, the Secretary of State's office, the Department of Motor Vehicles, any public assistance office, any agency that serves people with disabilities, any marriage license office, or any military recruiting agency.[16]

Automatic registration

See also: Automatic voter registration

West Virginia automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles.[17]

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

West Virginia has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Same-day registration

See also: Same-day voter registration

West Virginia does not allow same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

An individual must have resided in the state for at least 30 days of residency before they may vote.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

West Virginia does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[18] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. One state, Ohio, requires proof of citizenship only when registering to vote at a Bureau of Motor Vehicles facility. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The West Virginia Secretary of State's office allows residents to check their voter registration status online by visiting this website.

Voter ID requirements

West Virginia requires voters to present identification while voting. The identification provided must be issued either by the State of West Virginia, or one of its subsidiaries, or by the United States government.[19][20]

Signed into law in 2025, HB 3016 established that a document was valid if it:[20]

  • Has been issued either by the State of West Virginia, one of its political subdivisions or instrumentalities, or by the United States Government;
  • Contains the name of the person desiring to vote; and
  • Contains a photograph of the person desiring to vote. Provided that a driver’s license or identification card issued in accordance with §17B-2-1(f)(4) of the West Virginia code that does not contain a photograph of the person desiring to vote is a valid identifying document.

State law enumerates the following identifications that an individual may use to vote:[20]

  • A valid West Virginia driver’s license or valid West Virginia identification card issued by the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, including a driver’s license or identification card issued in accordance with §17B-2-1(f)(4) of the West Virginia code
  • A valid driver’s license issued by a state other than the State of West Virginia
  • A valid United States passport or passport card
  • A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the United States Government or of the State of West Virginia, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of West Virginia
  • A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible voter issued by an institution of higher education in West Virginia, or a valid high school identification card issued by a West Virginia high school
  • A valid military identification card issued by the United States with a photograph of the person desiring to vote
  • A valid voter registration card that includes the voter’s photograph issued by a county clerk in the State of West Virginia or the Secretary of State. The county clerk or the Secretary of State may not charge or collect a fee for the application or issuance of a voter registration card that includes the voter’s photograph

Lastly, state law provided for the following exceptions and alternative methods of verifying a voter's identity:[20]

  • Any expired document identified above is a valid identifying document if presented by a registered voter 65 years of age or older, provided that the identifying document was not expired on the registered voter’s 65th birthday.
  • In lieu of providing a valid identifying document a registered voter may be accompanied at the polling place by an adult known to the registered voter for at least six months. That adult may sign an affidavit on a form provided to clerks and poll workers by the Secretary of State, which states under oath or affirmation that the adult has known the registered voter for at least six months, and that in fact the registered voter is the same person who is present for the purpose of voting. For the affidavit to be considered valid, the adult shall present a valid identifying document with his or her name, address, and photograph.
  • A poll worker may allow a voter, whom the poll worker has known for at least six months, to vote without presenting a valid identifying document.
  • If the person desiring to vote is unable to furnish a valid identifying document, or if the poll clerk determines that the proof of identification presented by the voter does not qualify as a valid identifying document, the person desiring to vote shall be permitted to cast a provisional ballot after executing an affidavit affirming his or her identity.

Voters can obtain a free voter ID card at their county clerk’s office.[21]

Early voting

West Virginia permits early voting. Learn more by visiting this website.

Early voting permits citizens to cast ballots in person at a polling place prior to an election. In states that permit no-excuse early voting, a voter does not have to provide an excuse for being unable to vote on Election Day. States that allow voters to cast no-excuse absentee/mail-in ballots in person are counted as no-excuse early voting states.

Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia permit no-excuse early voting.

Absentee voting

Voters in West Virginia are eligible to vote absentee in an election "if the voter is 'confined,' or not in their home county, for the entire duration of in-person voting (both the early voting period and on Election Day)," for one of the following reasons:[22]

  • “Injury or illness”
  • “Disability or 'extreme advanced age'”
  • “Incarceration or home detention (does not include individuals convicted of any felony, treason, or election bribery)”
  • “Work hours and distance from county seat”
  • “Inaccessible early voting site and polling place”
  • “Personal or business travel”
  • “Attendance at college or other place of education or training”
  • “Temporary residence outside of the county”
  • “Service as an elected or appointed state or federal official”

To vote absentee, a request must be received by the county clerk no later than the sixth day prior to the election.[23]


Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

There are no pivot counties in West Virginia. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won West Virginia with 68.5 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 26.4 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, West Virginia cast votes for the winning presidential candidate 76.7 percent of the time. In that same time frame, West Virginia supported Democratic and Republican candidates for president equally. West Virginia favored Republicans in every presidential election between 2000 and 2016.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in West Virginia. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[24][25]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won four out of 67 state House districts in West Virginia with an average margin of victory of 13.9 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won one out of 67 state House districts in West Virginia with an average margin of victory of 34.4 points.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 63 out of 67 state House districts in West Virginia with an average margin of victory of 31.9 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 66 out of 67 state House districts in West Virginia with an average margin of victory of 46.8 points.

See also

Federal primaries in West Virginia State primaries in West Virginia West Virginia state party apparatus West Virginia voter information
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Footnotes

  1. Federal Elections Commission, "Compare candidate financial totals," accessed March 22, 2018
  2. Federal Elections Commission, "Compare candidate financial totals," accessed March 22, 2018
  3. ‘’National Review’’, “Trump Is Not Blameless in the Spending-Bill Disaster,” March 28, 2018
  4. The New York Times, "A New Guide to the Republican Herd," August 26, 2012
  5. Gallup, "Trump Job Approval Slips Back to 41%," June 25, 2018
  6. Daily Commercial, "Trump hurdle looms large in Florida GOP governor primary," July 30, 2018
  7. Daily Commercial, "These 2018 Primaries Are Worth Watching," July 25, 2018
  8. Washington Post, "Republican primary candidates have one goal: Securing Trump’s endorsement or denying it to an opponent," July 25, 2018
  9. USA Today, "Donald Trump once divided Republicans; ads for midterms signal that's no longer true," May 17, 2018
  10. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  11. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
  12. Gov. Jim Justice switched his registration to Republican on August 4, 2017.
  13. West Virginia State Legislature, "WV Code § 3-4A-20," accessed June 30, 2025
  14. National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed June 30, 2025
  15. West Virginia Secretary of State, "Elections Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)," accessed October 9, 2025
  16. 16.0 16.1 West Virginia Secretary of State, "Elections Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)," accessed June 30, 2025
  17. NCSL, "State Profiles: Elections," accessed June 30, 2025
  18. Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
  19. West Virginia State Legislature, "West Virginia Code, §3-1-34. Voting procedures generally; identification; assistance to voters; voting records; penalties." accessed October 9, 2025
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 West Virginia Legislature, "House Bill 3016 (2025)," accessed October 9, 2025
  21. West Virginia Secretary of State, "Be Registered and Ready" accessed October 9, 2025
  22. West Virginia Secretary of State, “Eligibility for Absentee Voting In West Virginia,” accessed June 30, 2025
  23. West Virginia Secretary of State, “Absentee Voting Information,” accessed June 30, 2025
  24. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  25. Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017