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  WV Governor
RACE DETAILS
Parents > United States > West Virginia > Governor
OfficeGovernor
HonorificGovernor - Abbr: Gov.
Type General Election
Filing Deadline January 30, 1996 - 12:00pm Central
Polls Open November 05, 1996 - 06:00am Central
Polls Close November 05, 1996 - 11:00pm Central
Term Start January 03, 1997 - 12:00pm
Term End January 03, 2001 - 12:00pm
ContributorRalphie
Last ModifiedRBH February 05, 2022 06:18pm
Data Sources[Link] also America Votes 22:520 (returns); New York Times 11/2/1996 for commentary.
Description
Although West Virginia was a regularly Democratic state, a handful of Republican politicians had been able to carry the state. Arch Moore was the best example during the 1970s and 1980s.

Following the primaries, the Democratic nominee led in the polls. Charlotte Pritt, who narrowly defeated Joe Manchin in the primary, had several important enemies in the Democratic Party. Gov. Caperton never forgave her for running a write-in campaign after losing to him in the 1992 Democratic primary.

The winner of the Republican primary, Cecil Underwood, was already a footnote in the state's history. He had been elected Governor in 1956 and was the youngest person to hold the post. After his term in office, he served as a college president and had worked to bring technology businesses to the state. If elected, Underwood would also become the state's oldest governor.

As the campaign unfolded, Underwood began to attack Pritt for having too many connections to liberal interests in the state. He charged that Pritt would initiate policies which would keep new technology businesses out of the state. His prescription was to reduce taxes and regulations on business.

Pritt pointed out that she had a friendly rapport with President Clinton and would be able to obtain federal funds for state projects. She called for collective bargaining among state employees and for corporations to pay more money to the state worker's compensation fund. However, moderate Democrats, particularly in the

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LAST GENERAL ELECTION
  PartyDemocratic Won11/03/1992
NameGaston Caperton Votes368,302 (56.01%)
Term01/03/1993 - 01/03/1997 Margin127,912 (+19.45%)
NEXT GENERAL ELECTION
  PartyDemocratic Won11/07/2000
NameBob Wise Votes324,822 (50.12%)
Term01/03/2001 - 01/03/2005 Margin18,896 (+2.92%)
PRIMARY/OTHER SCHEDULE
May 14, 1996 WV Governor - D Primary
Charlotte Pritt
D 329,057
May 14, 1996 WV Governor - R Primary
Cecil H. Underwood
R 133,972
MATCHUP POLL GRAPH
Poll Graph

06/08/1996 10/28/1996

CANDIDATES
Photo  
Name Gov. Cecil H. Underwood St. Sen. Charlotte Pritt Wallace Johnson  
PartyRepublican Democratic Libertarian  
Campaign Logo  
Certified Votes 324,518 (51.63%) 287,870 (45.80%) 16,171 (2.57%)  
Margin0 (0.00%) -36,648 (-5.83%) -308,347 (-49.06%)  
Predict Avg.0.00% 0.00% 0.00%  
Cash On Hand 0/0 $1,829,326.00 0/0 $1,261,155.00 0/0 $31,812.00  
Website [Website]  
Entry Date -- -- --  
Bar
MATCHUP POLLS (6 from 4 pollsters)
Adj Poll Avg50.11%-- 41.30%-- 2.12%--  
Charleston Gazette 
10/28/96-10/28/96
52.00% 4.4 45.70% 5.3 2.40% 1.0
Lake Snell Perry & Associates (D) 
10/13/96-10/21/96
44.00% -- 46.00% -- 1.00% --
Market Research Institute 
10/14/96-10/18/96
48.00% -- 41.00% -- 3.00% --
Mason-Dixon 
09/04/96-09/06/96
44.00% -- 43.00% -- 2.00% --
Charleston Gazette 
08/26/96-08/28/96
47.60% -- 51.00% -- 1.40% --
Lake Snell Perry & Associates (D) 
06/08/96-06/12/96
31.00% -- 42.00% -- 7.00% --
ENDORSEMENTS
Endorsements
LBR Old LW
 


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NEWS
Date Category Headline Article Contributor
May 30, 2003 02:58pm Analysis CHARLOTTE PRITT - Stump Speech on the Mount.  Article Not in Public Domain 
May 13, 2003 03:19pm News Pritt sues Republican Party; Lawsuit may set precedent.  Article Not in Public Domain 
May 13, 2003 03:10pm Analysis Despite UMW, Dem's majority, Jay, Pritt bested  Article Not in Public Domain 

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