1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election
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County results Moore: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Rockefeller: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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| Elections in West Virginia |
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The 1972 West Virginia gubernatorial election took place on November 7, 1972, to elect the governor of West Virginia. Incumbent governor Arch A. Moore, Jr. successfully ran for reelection to a second term. This was the first time a governor was reelected to a second four year term in state history, and the first time a governor had been reelected since 1872.
Both the primaries and general election were held in the aftermath of the Buffalo Creek flood and a movement to abolish strip mining in the state. Democratic nominee Jay Rockefeller campaigned on a proposal to abolish strip mining entirely if elected.