Special Primary Election for Governor

On Saturday, May 14th of 2011, West Virginia will be holding a special primary election to choose the primary candidates for Governor. Voters can also vote early on Saturday, May 7 from 9am-5pm. The last day to apply for an absentee ballot is May 9th, which must be submitted by May 13th. The Governors’ seat became vacant when Governor Joe Manchin was elected to and sworn into the United States Senate. Fourteen candidates have entered the race and out of these only two will appear in the general election on October 4th, 2011. The candidates are as diverse as their sheer numbers would suggest.

The big names on the Democrat side are acting Governor Early Ray Tomblin, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant and State Treasurer John Perdue; Jeff Kessler and Rick Thompson are also running for Governor and are former WV legislators. Arne Moltis is the only Democratic candidate who has not previously held public office.

As far as the Republicans go, the names are less recognizable statewide with Betty Ireland, Secretary of State from 2005-2009, being the most well-known. Clark Barnes, former State Senator, and Mark Sorsaia, Prosecuting Attorney of Putnam County, are the only other Republicans who have held public office. Scott Regan unsuccessfully ran for State Senate in 2010. The other candidates are generally businessman, with Bill Maloney leading the pack.

The Mountain Party will be represented with Bob Henry Barber and Jesse Johnson, who has ran multiple unsuccessful campaigns throughout the state including the recent special election for US Senate that Governor Joe Manchin won.

On the primary ballot, in the order they appear here, will be the following candidates:

Note: All name links will take you to their respective official campaign sites.

• Republicans
  • Bill Maloney
  • Ralph William Clark
  • Larry Faircloth
  • Mark Sorsaia
  • Clark Barnes
  • Cliff Ellis
  • Betty Ireland
  • Mitch Carmichael
• Democrats
  • Earl Ray Tomblin
  • Jeff Kessler
  • John Perdue
  • Rick Thompson
  • Arne Moltis
  • Natalie Tennant

Be sure to get out and vote!

If your unsure of your polling place, you can use the Secretary of State’s “Find My Polling Place” application to help you. If you are unsure if you are registered, you can use their “Am I Registered to Vote?” application. If you need to register to vote, visit our “Register to Vote” page for more information. To vote in the general election on October 4th, you must be registered to vote by September 13th.

Contact the Candidates

Name	Party	Address	County	Phone	Email
Clark Barnes	R	106 S. Kanawha St., Buckhannon, WV 26253	Randolph	304-472-5608	cbarnes1950@yahoo.com
Earl Ray Tomblin	D	PO Box 11530 Charleston, WV 25339	Logan		info@earlraytomblin.com
Rick Thompson	D	4625 Route 152 Lavalette, WV 25535	Wayne	304-551-7425	Info@RickThompsonWV.com
Arne Moltis	D	PO Box 8373 South Charleston, WV 25303	Kanawha	304-395-0214	arne@suddenlink.net
Natalie Tennant	D	P.O. Box 1063 Charleston, WV 25324	Kanawha	304-993-0874	info@natalietennant.com
Betty Ireland	R	PO Box 3848 Charleston, WV 25338	Kanawha	304-343-5033	info@votebettyireland.com
Mark Sorsaia	R	P.O. Box 361, Hurricane, WV 25526	Putnam	304-546-3477	mark@sorsaiaforgovernor.com
Larry Faircloth	R	P.O. Box 558 Inwood, WV 25428	Berkeley	304-267-3949	faircloth4governor@frontier.com
John Perdue	D	608 Virginia Street E Charleston, WV 25301	Kanawha	304-414-0880	John@johnperdue.com
Cliff Ellis	R	104 Sunset Drive Westover, WV 26501	Monongalia	304-680-5332	gellis104@comcast.net
Mitch Carmichael	R	2 Colonial Drive Ripley, WV 25271	Jackson	304-372-4667	mitch.carmichael@frontier.com
Ralph Clark	R		Monongalia		rclark376@comcast.net
Jeff Kessler	D	607 Wheeling Ave. Glen Dale, WV 26038	Marshall		jeff@jeffkesslerforgovernor.com
Bill Maloney	R	PO Box 18189 Morgantown, WV 26507	Monongalia		maloneyforwv@gmail.com

Name		Party		Mailing Address	County	Phone #	Email Address
Clark Barnes		Republican		106 S. Kanawha St., Buckhannon, WV 26253	Randolph	304-472-5608	cbarnes1950@yahoo.com
Earl Ray Tomblin		Democrat		PO Box 11530 Charleston, WV 25339	Logan		info@earlraytomblin.com
Rick Thompson		Democrat		4625 Route 152 Lavalette, WV 25535	Wayne	304-551-7425	Info@RickThompsonWV.com
Arne Moltis		Democrat		PO Box 8373 South Charleston, WV 25303	Kanawha	304-395-0214	arne@suddenlink.net
Natalie E. Tennant		Democrat		P.O. Box 1063 Charleston, WV 25324	Kanawha	304-993-0874	info@natalietennant.com
Betty Ireland		Republican		PO Box 3848 Charleston, WV 25338	Kanawha	304-343-5033	info@votebettyireland.com
Mark A. Sorsaia		Republican		P.O. Box 361, Hurricane, WV 25526	Putnam	304-546-3477	mark@sorsaiaforgovernor.com
Larry V. Faircloth		Republican		P.O. Box 558 Inwood, WV 25428	Berkeley	304-267-3949	faircloth4governor@frontier.com
John D. Perdue		Democrat		608 Virginia Street E Charleston, WV 25301	Kanawha	304-414-0880	John@johnperdue.com
Cliff Ellis		Republican		104 Sunset Drive Westover, WV 26501	Monongalia	304-680-5332	gellis104@comcast.net
Mitch B. Carmichael		Republican		2 Colonial Drive Ripley, WV 25271	Jackson	304-372-4667	mitch.carmichael@frontier.com
Ralph William Clark		Republican			Monongalia		rclark376@comcast.net
Jeffrey V. Kessler		Democrat		607 Wheeling Ave. Glen Dale, WV 26038	Marshall		jeff@jeffkesslerforgovernor.com
Bill Maloney		Republican		PO Box 18189 Morgantown, WV 26507	Monongalia		maloneyforwv@gmail.com