1988 West Virginia gubernatorial election

For related races, see 1988 United States gubernatorial elections.

1988 West Virginia gubernatorial election

November 8, 1988

Nominee Gaston Caperton Arch A. Moore Jr. Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 382,421 267,172 Percentage 58.9% 41.1%

County results Caperton:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Moore:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%

Governor before election Arch A. Moore, Jr. Republican Elected Governor Gaston Caperton Democratic

The 1988 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 8, 1988 to elect the governor of West Virginia. Incumbent Republican governor Arch A. Moore Jr. ran for re-election to a fourth term in office, but was defeated by Democratic nominee Gaston Caperton.

Results

Democratic primary

West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary, 1988

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gaston Caperton	132,435	37.96%
	Democratic	Clyde M. See, Jr.	94,364	27.05%
	Democratic	Mario Palumbo	51,722	14.83%
	Democratic	Gus Douglass	48,748	13.97%
	Democratic	Dan R. Tonkovich	14,916	4.28%
	Democratic	Larry Harless	5,217	1.50%
	Democratic	Paul Nuchims	1,484	0.43%
Total votes			348,886	100.00%

Republican primary

Republican Primary results by county:

  Moore Jr.

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

  Raese

•   50–60%
•   60–70%

  Tie 50%

West Virginia Republican gubernatorial primary, 1988

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Arch A. Moore Jr. (incumbent)	78,495	53.23%
	Republican	John Raese	68,973	46.77%
Total votes			147,468	100.00%

General election

West Virginia gubernatorial election, 1988

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Gaston Caperton	382,421	58.87%
	Republican	Arch A. Moore Jr. (incumbent)	267,172	41.13%
Total votes			649,593	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican