 In the past 50 years, there have been 8 different men who have served as Governor of West Virginia. In summary:
* Joe Manchin - Democrat 2005-present
* Bob Wise - Democrat 2001-2005
* Cecil H. Underwood - Republic 1997-2001
* Gaston Caperton - Democrat 1989-1997
* Arch A. Moore, Jr. - Republic 1985-1989
* John D. Rockefeller IV - Democrat 1977-1985
* Arch A. Moore, Jr. - Republic 1969-1977
* William Wallace Barron - Democrat 1961-1965
* Cecil H. Underwood - Republic 1957-1961
* Hulett C. Smith - Democratic 1965-1969
It is instructive to consider what they did before they became Governor, as well as what they did afterward.
Joe Manchin, Elected 2004, Re-Elected 2008
Previous offices: Secretary of State (2000), State Senate (1986-96), House of Delegates (1982-86)
Ran for Gov. once before, lost in Dem. Primary (1996)
Bob Wise, Elected 2000
Previous offices: State Senate (1980-1982), US House of Rep. 1982-2000
Post-Gov.: President of the Alliance for Excellent Education,
Cecil H. Underwood, Elected 1956, Re-Elected 1996
Previous offices: House of Delegates (1944-56)
Between terms: defeated for US Senate (1960); defeated for Gov. in 1964, 1968 (primary), and 1976.
Gaston Caperton, Elected 1988, Re-Elected 1992
Previous offices: none.
Post-Gov.: President and CEO of College Board
Arch A. Moore, Jr., Elected 1968, Re-Elected 1972; Re-Elected 1984
Previous offices: House of Delegates (1952); US House of Rep. (1956-1968)
Between terms: Lost Senate race (1978), Lost Gov. race (1980)
Post-Gov.: served 3+ years in federal prison after pleading guilty to five felonies
Jay Rockefeller, Elected 1976, Re-election 1980
Previous offices: House of Delegates (1966); Sec. of State (1968)
Lost Gov. race in 1972
Post-Gov.: US Senate (1984 - present)
Hulett C. Smith, Elected 1964
Previous offices: none
Chairman of W.Va. Democratic Party 1956-1962
Ran for Gov. once before, lost in Dem. Primary (1960)
Post-Gov.: "After leaving office, Smith returned to his insurance agency in Beckley and assumed duties as secretary-treasurer of two area hospitals. In retirement, he became an outspoken advocate for the environment. He later served on the National Council for Revision of State Constitutions, the Judicial Inquiry Commission, and as a director of First Lady Rosalyn Carter's Friendship Force."
William Wallace Barron, Elected 1960
Previous offices: House of Delegates (1950-1953), Attorney General (1956)
Post-Gov.: Served four-year sentence for jury tampering stemming from bribery trial related to his term in Gov.
Here's a summary of what offices each candidate held before their first election to Governor. Their highest held office is listed in bold.
* US Congress: Wise, Moore
* Secretary of State: Manchin, Rockefeller
* Attorney General: Barron
* State Senate: Manchin, Wise
* House of Delegates: Underwood, Manchin, Wise, Rockefeller, Moore, Barron
* None: Caperton, Smith
After their first term as Gov.:
* Rockefeller won many Senate elections
* Underwood and Moore both lost Senate races but returned to the Gov. mansion in non-consecutive terms
* Wise, Caperton and Smith did not run for elected office again.
* Moore and Barron served multi-year jail sentences
Finally, in campaigns since 1976, Wise, Caperton won on their first attempts, but Manchin, Underwood, Moore and Rockefeller all lost in their first race. |
