2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia

The 2008 congressional elections in West Virginia was held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent the state of West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; whoever is elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia

November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04)

All 3 West Virginia seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 2 1
Seats won 2 1
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 432,075 213,339
Percentage 66.93% 33.05%
Swing Increase 8.92% Decrease 8.92%

West Virginia has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Its 2007–2008 congressional delegation consisted of two Democrats and one Republican. As of 2020, this is the last time that Democrats won a majority of congressional districts from West Virginia.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2008[1]
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 432,075 66.93% 2
Republican 213,339 33.05% 1
Independents 146 0.02% 0
Totals 645,560 100.00% 3

District 1

Democratic incumbent Alan Mollohan ran unopposed. CQ Politics ranked the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

West Virginia's 1st congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Mollohan (incumbent) 187,734 99.93
Write-ins 130 0.07
Total votes 187,864 100.00
Democratic hold

District 2

Republican incumbent Shelley Moore Capito (campaign website) won against Democratic nominee Anne Barth (campaign website), a longtime former aide to U.S. Senator Robert Byrd. CQ Politics ranked the race 'Leans Republican'. The Rothenberg Political Report considered it 'Republican Favored'.[2] The Cook Political Report considered it 'Likely Republican'.[3]

In 2006, Capito was reelected with 57%, a solid margin, but not a sign of political security. She faced a potentially difficult challenge from state Sen. John Unger (D), but Unger surprised many when he dropped out of the race.[4]

West Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shelley Moore Capito (incumbent) 147,334 57.07
Democratic Anne Barth 110,819 42.92
Write-ins 16 0.01
Total votes 258,169 100.00
Republican hold

District 3

Democratic incumbent Nick Rahall was challenged by Republican Marty Gearheart. CQ Politics ranked the race as 'Safe Democrat'.

West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 133,522 66.92
Republican Marty Gearheart 66,005 33.08
Total votes 199,527 100.00
Democratic hold

References

  1. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
  2. 2008 House Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, October 14, 2008
  3. 2008 Competitive House Race Chart Archived 2008-10-19 at the Wayback Machine The Cook Political Report, October 16, 2008
  4. Mannix Porterfield, State Sen. Unger running for U.S. Congress Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine The Register Herald May 21, 2007 Retrieved June 2, 2007
Preceded by
2006 elections
United States House elections in West Virginia
2008
Succeeded by
2010 elections
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