2008 United States Senate election in West Virginia
The 2008 United States Senate election in West Virginia was held on November 4. Incumbent Senator Jay Rockefeller won re-election to a fifth term in a landslide, defeating Republican Jay Wolfe by a 27-point margin. Despite this overwhelming win, this remains the last time that a Democrat has won West Virginia's Class 2 U.S. Senate seat. In both of the two subsequent elections for the seat, Republicans have swept every single county.
Image: Jay Rockefeller official photo (cropped)
Image: Jay Wolfe cropped
John Davison "Jay" Rockefeller IV is a retired American politician who served as a United States senator from West Virginia (1985–2015). He was first elected to the Senate in 1984, while in office as governor of West Virginia (1977–1985). Rockefeller moved to Emmons, West Virginia, to serve as a VISTA worker in 1964 and was first elected to public office as a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates (1966-1968). Rockefeller was later elected secretary of state of West Virginia (1968–1973) and was president of West Virginia Wesleyan College (1973–1975). He became the state's senior U.S. senator when the long-serving Senator Robert Byrd died in June 2010.
Jay Rockefeller
Governor Rockefeller giving a speech aboard USS Stump, July 1984
Surrounded by colleagues Robert C. Byrd, Bob Dole, Strom Thurmond and Jennings Randolph, Vice President George H.W. Bush administers the oath of office for Rockefeller in January 1985
Rockefeller with fellow West Virginia Senator Carte Goodwin