2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia

2008 United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia
← 2006
November 4, 2008 (2008-11-04)
2010 →
All 3 West Virginia seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Democratic Republican
Last election 2 1
Seats won 2 1
Seat change Steady Steady
Popular vote 432,075 213,339
Percentage 66.93% 33.05%
Swing Increase 8.92% Decrease 8.92%

The 2008 congressional elections in West Virginia was held on November 4, 2008, to determine who would represent the state of West Virginia in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; whoever is elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009, until January 3, 2011. The election coincided with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

West Virginia has three seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States census. Its 2007–2008 congressional delegation consisted of two Democrats and one Republican. As of 2026, this is the last time that Democrats won both a majority of congressional districts and the House popular vote in West Virginia.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in West Virginia, 2008
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 432,075 66.93% 2 —
Republican 213,339 33.05% 1 —
Independents 146 0.02% 0 —
Totals 645,560 100.00% 3 —

District 1

2008 West Virginia's 1st congressional district election
← 2006
2010 →
 
Nominee Alan Mollohan
Party Democratic
Popular vote 187,734
Percentage 99.93%
County results
Mollohan:      90–100%
U.S. Representative before election

Alan Mollohan
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Representative

Alan Mollohan
Democratic

Democratic incumbent Alan Mollohan ran unopposed.

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Safe D November 6, 2008
Rothenberg Safe D November 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball Safe D November 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics Safe D November 7, 2008
CQ Politics Safe D November 6, 2008
West Virginia's 1st congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Alan Mollohan (incumbent) 187,734 99.93
Write-ins 130 0.07
Total votes 187,864 100.00
Democratic hold

District 2

2008 West Virginia's 2nd congressional district election
← 2006
2010 →
 
Nominee Shelley Moore Capito Anne Barth
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 147,334 110,819
Percentage 57.07% 42.92%
County results
Capito:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Barth:      50–60%
U.S. Representative before election

Shelley Moore Capito
Republican

 Elected U.S. Representative

Shelley Moore Capito
Republican

Republican incumbent Shelley Moore Capito (campaign website) won against Democratic nominee Anne Barth (campaign website), a longtime former aide to U.S. Senator Robert Byrd. CQ Politics ranked the race 'Leans Republican'. The Rothenberg Political Report considered it 'Republican Favored'. The Cook Political Report considered it 'Likely Republican'.

In 2006, Capito was reelected with 57%, a solid margin, but not a sign of political security. She faced a potentially difficult challenge from state Sen. John Unger (D), but Unger surprised many when he dropped out of the race.

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Lean R November 6, 2008
Rothenberg Likely R November 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball Lean R November 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics Safe R November 7, 2008
CQ Politics Lean R November 6, 2008
West Virginia's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Shelley Moore Capito (incumbent) 147,334 57.07
Democratic Anne Barth 110,819 42.92
Write-ins 16 0.01
Total votes 258,169 100.00
Republican hold

District 3

2008 West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election
← 2006
2010 →
 
Nominee Nick Rahall Marty Gearheart
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 133,522 66,005
Percentage 66.92% 33.08%
County results
Rahall:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
U.S. Representative before election

Nick Rahall
Democratic

 Elected U.S. Representative

Nick Rahall
Democratic

Democratic incumbent Nick Rahall was challenged by Republican Marty Gearheart.

Predictions

Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Safe D November 6, 2008
Rothenberg Safe D November 2, 2008
Sabato's Crystal Ball Safe D November 6, 2008
Real Clear Politics Safe D November 7, 2008
CQ Politics Safe D November 6, 2008
West Virginia's 3rd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Nick Rahall (incumbent) 133,522 66.92
Republican Marty Gearheart 66,005 33.08
Total votes 199,527 100.00
Democratic hold

References

  1. ↑ "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
  2. 1 2 3 "2008 Competitive House Race Chart". House: Race Ratings. The Cook Political Report. November 6, 2006. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 "2008 House Ratings". House Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. November 2, 2006. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "2008 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball. November 6, 2008. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Battle for the House of Representatives". realclearpolitics.com. Real Clear Politics. November 7, 2008. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 "Race Ratings Chart: House". cqpolitics.com. Congressional Quarterly Inc. Archived from the original on November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
  7. ↑ 2008 House Ratings The Rothenberg Political Report, October 14, 2008
  8. ↑ 2008 Competitive House Race Chart Archived 2008-10-19 at the Wayback Machine The Cook Political Report, October 16, 2008
  9. ↑ Mannix Porterfield, State Sen. Unger running for U.S. Congress Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine The Register Herald May 21, 2007 Retrieved June 2, 2007
Preceded by
2006 elections		 United States House elections in West Virginia
2008		 Succeeded by
2010 elections