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      Data: MIT Election Lab, VEST, Census Bureau
      Home/Elections/1988/Governor/West Virginia
      1988·Governor·West Virginia

      West Virginia Governor

      Winner
      DEM
      Gaston Caperton
      58.9%382,421 votes
      Runner-up
      REP
      Arch A. Jr. Moore
      41.1%267,172 votes
      Margin
      D+17.7
      649,593 total votes
      2 candidates649,593 total votes
      CandidatePartyVotes ▼%Vote Share
      Gaston CapertonDEM✓
      DEM382,42158.9%
      Arch A. Jr. MooreREP
      REP267,17241.1%

      Seat History

      Governor in West Virginia

      2024
      Patrick MorriseyREP
      R+30.4
      2020
      Jim JusticeREP
      R+33.9
      2016
      Jim JusticeDEM
      D+6.8
      2012
      Earl Ray TomblinDEM
      D+4.8
      2008
      Joe ManchinDEM
      D+44.1
      2004
      Joe ManchinDEM
      D+29.5
      2000
      Robert Ellsworth WiseDEM
      D+2.9
      1996
      Cecil H. UnderwoodREP
      R+5.8
      1992
      Gaston CapertonDEM
      D+19.5
      1984
      Arch A. Jr. MooreREP
      R+6.5
      1980
      John D. IV RockefellerDEM
      D+8.7
      1976
      John D. IV RockefellerDEM
      D+32.3
      1972
      Arch A. Jr. MooreREP
      R+9.5
      1968
      Arch A. Jr. MooreREP
      R+1.7
      View all Governor history for West Virginia →

      Candidates

      Arch A. Jr. MooreREP
      Record3W-2L
      Avg MarginD+1.8
      Career1968-1988
      Governor
      Full profile →
      Gaston CapertonDEM
      Record2W-0L
      Avg MarginD+18.6
      Career1988-1992
      Governor
      Full profile →

      Also in West Virginia, 1988

      President1 contest →US Senate1 contest →US House4 contests →
      ← All 1988 Governor races1988 overviewWest Virginia profileAll elections