Newly released poll shows few surprises in upcoming West Virginia elections
August 30, 2024
A newly released poll gives a look at which way West Virginians are leaning in key races with a little more than 60 days left until the November election.
The poll showed few surprises. West Virginians continue to favor former President Donald Trump in the presidential contest; Gov. Jim Justice looks poised to win a seat in the U.S. Senate; and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey holds an edge in the gubernatorial race.
The results of the latest West Virginia Poll, which has been conducted by polling firm Research America since 1980, were unveiled Friday during the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce by veteran pollster Rex Repass.
The poll surveyed a group of 400 “likely voters” in West Virginia whose political affiliations roughly align with the state’s larger electorate, Repass said.
“We have about 42% Republicans, 31% Democrats, 26% independent and about 1% some other party,” he said. “If you look at the (West Virginia) Secretary of State’s data from July 31, it’s pretty consistent with this.”
Trump, who the state overwhelmingly supported in the last two elections, led Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, 61% to 34% in the presidential match up.
“There’s no question that Donald Trump is strong in West Virginia,” Repass said. “He’s always in 60 percentile-plus, as high as 68% in 2016 and 2020 and he still has a strong lead in our poll.”
The poll showed there are few undecided voters in West Virginia when it comes to the presidential race, Repass said.
In the race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., Justice, a Republican, is heavily favored over his Democratic challenger Wheeling Mayor Glen Elliott 62% to 28%.
“Gov. Justice is not only popular but he polls very well,” Repass said. “Glen Elliott, the mayor of Wheeling, is frankly just not well known.”
Republican Attorney General Patrick Morrisey polled at 49% vs. his Democratic opponent Huntington Mayor Steve Williams’ 35% in the race for governor.
“Patrick Morrisey has run very strong in three or four statewide campaigns — 300,000-plus votes that he’s garnered over the number of years that he’s run for attorney general and when he ran for the U.S. Senate,” Repass said.
The polling shows about 11% of West Virginia respondents have yet to make up their minds about who to support for governor.
“If you look at independents, 22% are undecided,” he said. “If you look at Republicans in the governor’s race it’s 84% for Morrisey, 6% for Steve Williams. If you look at Democrats, 13% for Morrisey and 78% for Steve Williams.”
The Justice and Morrisey campaigns each issued statements Friday celebrating the poll’s results.
“West Virginians overwhelmingly support Gov. Jim Justice for U.S. Senate. He has a strong record of big accomplishments from the largest tax cut in state history, economic development and creating thousands of jobs across the state, record budget surpluses, a pro-life champion and defender of our Second Amendment,” said Roman Stauffer, campaign manager for the Justice campaign.
“Patrick Morrisey has a huge lead even after having millions of dollars in negative advertising spent against him in the primary,” said Jai Chabria, senior strategist for the Morrisey campaign. “He is poised to win the election with an overwhelming result, and as the next governor, he will be able to fight the Washington D.C. establishment to protect and create West Virginians’ jobs, increase the state’s educational attainment, make the West Virginia business community more competitive with our neighboring states and make lives better for all West Virginians.”
Story by Charles Young, WV News