2014 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia explained

The 2014 United States House of Representatives election in West Virginia was held on November 4, 2014, to elect the three U.S. representatives from West Virginia, one from each of the state's three congressional districts.

Republicans won control of every congressional district in West Virginia for the first time since the 61st Congress ended in 1911.

Representatives are elected for two-year terms. Those elected served in the 114th Congress from January 2015 until January 2017.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2014[1]
Party	Votes	Percentage	Seats	+/–
	Republican	242,823	55.26%	3	+1
	Democratic	182,484	41.53%	0	-1
	Libertarian	7,682	1.75%	0	–
	Independents	6,399	1.46%	0	–
Totals		439,388	100.00%	3	—

By district

Results of the 2014 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia by district:^[2]

scope=col rowspan=3	District	scope=col colspan=2	Republican	scope=col colspan=2	Democratic	scope=col colspan=2	Others	scope=col colspan=2	Total	scope=col rowspan=3	Result
scope=col colspan=2 style="background:"	!	scope=col colspan=2 style="background:"	!	scope=col colspan=2	!	scope=col colspan=2
scope=col data-sort-type="number"	Votes !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	% !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	Votes !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	% !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	Votes !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	% !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	Votes !	scope=col data-sort-type="number"	%
	92,491	63.90%	52,109	36.00%	137	0.10%	144,737	100%	Republican hold
	72,619	47.08%	67,687	43.88%	13,944	9.04%	154,250	100%	Republican hold
District 3	77,713	55.35%	62,688	44.65%	0	0.00%	140,401	100%	Republican gain
Total	242,823	55.26%	182,484	41.53%	14,081	3.21%	439,388	100%

District 1

See also: West Virginia's 1st congressional district. Incumbent Republican David McKinley, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election.

Republican primary

While McKinley had expressed some interest in running for Senate, he later declared he would not run.^[3] He filed for re-election to his House seat on January 15, 2014.^[4]

Candidates

Nominee

• David McKinley, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Glen Gainer III, State Auditor^[5]

Results

General election

Results

District 2

See also: West Virginia's 2nd congressional district. Incumbent Republican Shelley Moore Capito, who had represented the district since 2001, won her seventh term in Congress with almost 70 percent of the vote in 2012. She announced that she would not run for re-election, so that she could run for the United States Senate seat held by retiring Democrat Jay Rockefeller.^[7]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Alex Mooney, former chairman of the Maryland Republican Party and former Maryland State Senator^[8]

Eliminated in primary

• Robert Fluharty, veteran, investigator and Eastern Panhandle resident^[9]
• Steve Harrison, state senator
• Charlotte Lane, former state delegate, former United States International Trade Commissioner and nominee for West Virginia Attorney General in 1996^[10]
• Jim Moss, Putnam County resident^[11]
• Ken Reed, pharmacy owner from Berkeley Springs^[12]
• Ron Walters Jr., son of State Delegate Ron Walters^[13]

Declined

• Tim Armstead, Minority Leader of the West Virginia House of Delegates
• Shelley Moore Capito, incumbent U.S. Representative (running for the U.S. Senate)^[7]
• Larry Faircloth, former state delegate (running for the state senate)^[14]
• Betty Ireland, former Secretary of State of West Virginia
• Patrick Lane, state delegate
• Bill Maloney, businessman and nominee for governor in 2011 and 2012^[15]
• Patrick Morrisey, Attorney General of West Virginia^[16]
• Eric Nelson, state delegate^[17]
• Suzette Raines, state delegate (running for the state senate)^[18]
• Charles Trump, attorney^[19]

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Nick Casey, former chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party^[20]

Eliminated in primary

• Meshea Poore, state delegate^[21]

Declined

• Matt Dunn, attorney^[22]
• Steven Gower, Weston resident^[9]
• Doug Skaff, state delegate^[23]
• Herb Snyder, state senator^[24]
• Rod Snyder, president of the Young Democrats of America^[25]
• Erik Wells, state senator^[23]

Results

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Alex Mooney (R)	Nick Casey (D)	Other	Undecided
YouGov	October 16–23, 2014	348	± 7%	align=center	45%	44%	–	11%
Public Opinion Strategies [26]	August 10–12, 2014	400	± 4.9%	align=center	40%	28%	13%[27]	19%
Tarrance Group (R-Mooney)[28]	May 20–22, 2014	400	± 4.9%	align=center	43%	31%	15%[29]	11%

Results

District 3

Incumbent Democrat Nick Rahall, who had represented the district since 1977, ran for re-election after having considered running for the Senate.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Nick Rahall, incumbent U.S. Representative

Eliminated in primary

• Richard Ojeda, veteran^[30]

Results

Republican primary

For the Republicans, State Senator Evan Jenkins, who switched parties in July 2013, ran for the seat against Rahall.^[31] On switching parties, Jenkins stated that: "West Virginia is under attack from Barack Obama and a Democratic Party that our parents and grandparents would not recognize."^[31] In 2012, West Virginia's 3rd district went for Mitt Romney 66-32 percent.^[32]

State Senator Bill Cole, who had considered a run for the seat himself, was Jenkins' campaign chairman.^[33]

Candidates

Nominee

• Evan Jenkins, state senator^[31]

Declined

• Bill Cole, state senator
• Rick Snuffer, state delegate and nominee for this seat in 2004 & 2012^[34]

Results

Jenkins ran unopposed in the Republican primary.^[35]

General election

Campaign

Rahall was considered one of the most "endangered" House Democrats by the House Democratic campaign committee.^{[36] [37]}

Jenkins supported the repeal of Obamacare and pledged to replace it.^[38]

As of September 18, 2014, the race was rated a "toss up" by both University of Virginia political professor Larry Sabato, of Sabato's Crystal Ball, and Stu Rothenberg of the Rothenberg Political Report.^[39] As of October 2, managing editor Kyle Kondik of Sabato's Crystal Ball said the race was still a toss-up, calling it "Super close, super expensive and super nasty."^{[40] [41]}

A Fox News op-ed opined in October that Jenkins "offers Republicans the most credible nominee the party has had since the mid-'90s. In a race that will see as much advertising by third-party organizations as any House race in the country, the winner will be the candidate who voters believe will do the most to take on President Obama's War on Coal and the EPA."^[42]

Through October 6, 2014, 16,340 ads had appeared on broadcast television, the second-highest number of ads of any district in the U.S.^[43] By mid-October 2014, it was anticipated that $12.8 million could be spent on ads in the race by Election Day.^[44] Rahall outspent Jenkins in the election by a two-to-one ratio.^[45]

Time listed a Rahall ad in its article: "Here Are 5 of The Most Dishonest Political Ads of 2014," and The Washington Post ran an article regarding the same Rahall ad entitled: "A sleazy attack puts words in the other candidate's mouth".^{[46] [47]}

Endorsements

Rahall was endorsed by the NRA Political Victory Fund.^{[48] [49]}

The National Right to Life Committee, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, and West Virginians for Life, all of which had previously supported Rahall, supported Jenkins in 2014, and the West Virginia Coal Association endorsed Jenkins in September 2014.^{[50] [51]}

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Nick Rahall (D)	Evan Jenkins (R)	Undecided
YouGov	October 16–23, 2014	253	± 10%	45%	align=center	50%	5%
Harper Polling[52]	October 7–8, 2014	657	± 3.82%	44%	align=center	50%	6%
Garin-Hart-Yang Research[53]	May 26–28, 2014	403	± 5%	align=center	52%	39%	9%
Anzalone Liszt Grove Research (D-Rahall)[54]	May 12–14, 2014	502	± 4.4%	align=center	52%	39%	9%
DFM Research[55]	April 22–27, 2014	400	± 4.9%	align=center	48%	39%	13%
Garin-Hart-Yang Research[56]	April 15–16, 2014	400	± 5%	align=center	52%	40%	8%
Tarrance Group (R-Jenkins)[57]	March 3–5, 2014	405	± 4.9%	40%	align=center	54%	6%
Harper Polling (R-Jenkins)[58]	October 7–8, 2013	649	± 3.84%	align=center	46%	42%	12%

Results

Jenkins won the election, defeating incumbent Rahall in November 2014 with 55.3% of the vote to Rahall's 44.7%.^{[59] [60]}

See also

• 2014 United States House of Representatives elections
• 2014 United States elections

External links

• U.S. House elections in West Virginia, 2014 at Ballotpedia
• Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets

Notes and References

1. Web site: Election Statistics, 1920 to Present | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives . History.house.gov . 2016-12-12.
2. Web site: Haas. Karen L.. Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2014. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. October 28, 2019. March 9, 2015.
3. Web site: McKinley won't take on Capito in 2014 Senate race. February 22, 2013. May 12, 2013. The Charleston Gazette.
4. Web site: WV SOS – Elections – Candidate – Online Data Services. wv.gov.
5. Web site: WAJR.com - Gainer Getting in Congressional Race . wajr.com . 26 January 2022 . https://archive.today/20131107165418/http://wajr.com/common/more.php?m=15&r=1&item_id=15291 . 7 November 2013 . dead.
6. https://today.yougov.com/news/2014/10/30/house-races-battleground-tracker/ YouGov
7. Web site: Shelley Moore Capito makes Senate bid vs. Jay Rockefeller official. November 25, 2012. May 12, 2013. Politico. David. Catanese.
8. Web site: Ex-chairman of Md. GOP poised to run for Congress. June 5, 2013. July 5, 2013. The Journal. Rachel. Molenda. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203084325/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/595243/Ex-chairman-of-Md--GOP-poised-to-run-for-Congress.html. dead.
9. News: 2014 field growing in W.Va. federal races. July 14, 2013. July 29, 2013. Messina. Lawrence. Associated Press.
10. Web site: Charlotte Lane to run for Capito's Congressional seat. August 12, 2013. August 12, 2013. Boucher. Dave. Charleston Daily Mail.
11. Web site: Moss announces bid for Congress. July 29, 2013. July 29, 2013. The Journal. Rachel. Molenda. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203084428/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/597094/Moss-announces-bid-for-Congress.html?nav=5006. dead.
12. Web site: Candidates agree: No military action in Syria. September 14, 2013. September 16, 2013. The Journal. John. McVey. September 14, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130914162205/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/598821/Candidates-agree--No-military-action-in-Syria.html?nav=5006. dead.
13. Web site: Capitol Notebook: Young Republicans to run for Congress. August 13, 2013. August 13, 2013. Charleston Daily Mail. Dave. Boucher. February 21, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221111522/http://www.charlestondailymail.com/News/statehouse/201308120326. dead.
14. Web site: Larry V. Faircloth to run for the state Senate. January 18, 2014. February 6, 2014. The Journal. John. McVey. February 22, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222214309/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/603637/Larry-V--Faircloth-to-run-for-the-state-Senate.html. dead.
15. Web site: Bill Maloney doesn't want to run for U.S. Congress. May 7, 2013. May 12, 2013. Charleston Daily Mail. Zack. Harold. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222172754/http://blogs.charlestondailymail.com/capitolnotebook/2013/05/07/bill-maloney-doesnt-want-to-run-for-u-s-congress/. February 22, 2014. dead.
16. Web site: Democrat speculates attorney general-elect eyeing US House seat. January 3, 2013. May 12, 2013. Charleston Daily Mail. Ry. Rivard.
17. Web site: Top Republican Won't Run for Capito Seat #WV02. June 3, 2013. July 17, 2013. thehill.com. Abby. Livingston. June 28, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130628031748/http://atr.rollcall.com/top-republican-opts-against-run-for-capito-seat/. dead.
18. Web site: Suzette Raines won't run for Congress. August 27, 2013. August 29, 2013. Charleston Daily Mail. Dave. Boucher. February 21, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140221120528/http://www.charlestondailymail.com/News/201308270017. dead.
19. Web site: Former Kanawha lawmaker eyes congressional run. April 3, 2013. May 12, 2013. Charleston Daily Mail. Dave. Boucher. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222172751/http://blogs.charlestondailymail.com/capitolnotebook/2013/04/03/former-kanawha-lawmaker-eyes-congressional-run/. February 22, 2014. dead.
20. Web site: Nick Casey launches 2014 US House run. April 30, 2013. May 12, 2013. Charleston Daily Mail. Dave. Boucher.
21. Web site: Kanawha delegate Poore says she'll run for Congress. July 9, 2013. July 10, 2013. Charleston Daily Mail. Zack. Harold. https://web.archive.org/web/20140222172753/http://www.charlestondailymail.com/News/statehouse/201307090049. February 22, 2014. dead. mdy-all.
22. Web site: Dunn to run for 2nd District seat. April 7, 2013. May 12, 2013. The Journal. Rachel. Molenda. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203084423/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/593035/Dunn-to-run-for-2nd-District-sea---.html. dead.
23. News: Skaff considers run for U.S. House. April 25, 2013. May 12, 2013. Associated Press. The Charleston Gazette.
24. Web site: Snyder mulling run at Capito's seat. November 27, 2012. July 29, 2013. The Journal. Rachel. Molenda. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203084436/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/587629/Snyder-mulling-run-at-Capito-s-seat.html. dead.
25. Web site: Rod Snyder won't run for Congress. June 4, 2013. July 5, 2013. The Journal. John. McVey. February 3, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140203084433/http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/595206/Rod-Snyder-won-t-run-for-Congress.html. dead.
26. https://www.scribd.com/doc/237429604/WV-02-POS-for-Alex-Mooney-NRCC-Aug-2014 Public Opinion Strategies*
27. Davy Jones (L) with 5%, Ed Rabel (I) with 8%
28. https://www.scribd.com/doc/226283492/Poll-Mooney-Leads-Casey-by-10-Points-in-WV-02 Tarrance Group (R-Mooney)
29. Davy Jones (L) with 4%, Ed Rabel (I) with 11%
30. Web site: Manchin's State of Union guest to challenge Rep. Nick Rahall. January 18, 2014. January 20, 2014. The Hill. Justin. Sink.
31. Web site: Democrat Switches Parties to Challenge Rahall #WV03. July 31, 2013. July 31, 2013. Roll Call. Abby. Livingston. https://web.archive.org/web/20130802075059/http://atr.rollcall.com/democrat-switches-parties-to-challenge-rahall/. August 2, 2013. dead.
32. News: Blake. Aaron. GOP poll: Longtime Rep. Rahall (D-W.Va.) down double digits. May 23, 2014. The Washington Post. March 11, 2014.
33. Web site: Jenkins departing Democratic party. July 31, 2013. July 31, 2013. The Register-Herald. Mannix. Porterfield.
34. Web site: West Virginia: Snuffer Mulls Another Campaign for Rahall Seat. March 13, 2013. May 12, 2013. Roll Call. Abby. Livingston. May 8, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130508173953/http://atr.rollcall.com/west-virginia-snuffer-mulls-another-campaign-for-rahall-seat/. dead.
35. Web site: Beard, McLaughlin win primary election. October 2, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006145518/http://pocahontastimes.com/beard-mclaughlin-win-primary-election/. October 6, 2014. dead.
36. News: Mooney wins crowded GOP House primary; Capito, Tennant to face off in W.Va. Senate race. May 23, 2014. Fox News. May 13, 2014.
37. Web site: Report: Rep. Nick Rahall considered retirement. Kyle. Balluck. The Hill. April 6, 2014 . October 2, 2014.
38. News: Sargent. Greg. GOP repeal stance runs into complications, in deep red West Virginia. July 12, 2014. The Washington Post. March 27, 2014.
39. Web site: NRA endorses Nick Rahall for Congress. Charleston Daily Mail. October 3, 2014. October 6, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006125241/http://www.charlestondailymail.com/article/20140918/dm01/140919211. dead.
40. Web site: Looking into the Crystal Ball. October 2, 2014. West Virginia Metro News. October 3, 2014.
41. Web site: House Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. October 3, 2014.
42. Web site: November midterms: Who will be the 245th House Republican?. Fox News. October 9, 2014.
43. News: Democrats on Defense: Barrow, Rahall, Barber See Most TV Ads. Greg. Giroux. Bloomberg/politics. October 7, 2014 . October 9, 2014.
44. Web site: Coal, Obama Weighing Heavy in Rahall's W.Va. Bid. ABC News. October 14, 2014.
45. Web site: Republicans Projected To Seize Control Of The Senate: 2014 Midterm Elections Results Live. ABC News.
46. 2014 Midterms: Here Are Five of The Most Dishonest 2014 Political Ads. Time. October 9, 2014.
47. News: A sleazy attack puts words in the other candidate's mouth. The Washington Post. October 9, 2014.
48. Web site: NRA endorses U.S. Rep Nick Rahall. The Herald-Dispatch. October 9, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006100737/http://www.herald-dispatch.com/elections/x1814461401/NRA-endorses-U-S-Rep-Nick-Rahall. October 6, 2014. dead.
49. Web site: NRA-PVF - Grades - West Virginia . nrapvf.org . NRA-PVF . https://web.archive.org/web/20141007193938/https://www.nrapvf.org/grades/west-virginia/ . October 7, 2014 . en-US . usurped.
50. Web site: West Virginia Coal Association Endorses Evan Jenkins. Huntington News. October 2, 2014. October 6, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006070127/http://www.huntingtonnews.net/95924. dead.
51. Web site: Charleston Daily Mail – Jenkins receives national pro-life endorsement. October 2, 2014. October 6, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141006082128/http://www.charlestondailymail.com/article/20140916/DM0104/140919414. dead.
52. http://harperpolling.com/docs/default-source/default-document-library/jenkins-14-10-wv-3-memo.pdf Harper Polling
53. http://www.thehousemajoritypac.com/news/press-releases/new-poll-shows-rahall-expanding-lead Garin-Hart-Yang Research
54. https://www.scribd.com/doc/225261495/WV-03-Internal-Poll-May-2014 Anzalone Liszt Grove Research (D-Rahall)
55. http://www.dfmresearch.com/uploads/WV-3_Rail_Survey_--_April_2014__773-YWV.pdf DFM Research
56. https://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/house-races/204026-dem-poll-rahall-up-double-digits/ Garin-Hart-Yang Research
57. https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/03/11/gop-poll-longtime-rep-rahall-d-w-va-down-double-digits/ Tarrance Group (R-Jenkins)
58. https://web.archive.org/web/20140502010747/http://evanjenkins.com/poll-jenkins-rahall-a-4-point-race/ Harper Polling (R-Jenkins)
59. Web site: Dem Rahall loses House seat after 38 years. The Hill. November 5, 2014 .
60. Web site: Robert . Pear . West Virginia Election Results 2014 - NYTimes.com . Elections.nytimes.com . 2014-12-17 . 2016-12-12.