1982 United States Senate election in West Virginia

The 1982 United States Senate election in West Virginia took place on November 7, 1982. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Robert Byrd won re-election to a fifth term.

1982 United States Senate election in West Virginia

November 7, 1982

Nominee Robert Byrd Cleve Benedict Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 387,170 173,910 Percentage 68.49% 30.76%

County results Byrd:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Benedict:      50–60%

U.S. senator before election Robert Byrd Democratic Elected U.S. Senator Robert Byrd Democratic

Candidates

Democratic

• Robert Byrd, incumbent U.S. Senator

Republican

• Cleve Benedict, U.S. Congressman first elected in 1980

Campaign

Benedict, a freshman congressman, made great note of Byrd's record of high office in the Ku Klux Klan, his avoidance of service in World War II, and the fact that Byrd, then alone among members of Congress, owned no home in the state he represented. His campaign represented the last serious and well-funded effort to unseat Byrd, spending $1,098,218. Byrd was Minority Leader at the time.

Results

General election results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Byrd (incumbent)	387,170	68.49%
	Republican	Cleve Benedict	173,910	30.76%
	Socialist Workers	William B. Howland	4,234	0.75%
Total votes			565,314	100.00%
	Democratic hold

See also

• 1982 United States Senate elections