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

← 1976 November 7, 1982 1988 →
 
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

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Democratic

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Republican

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Campaign

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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

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General election results[1]
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

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References

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  1. ^ "WV US Senate Race - Nov 02, 1982". Our Campaigns. Retrieved September 8, 2013.