Who won West Virginia in the 1940 presidential election?

Roosevelt (Democratic) carried West Virginia in 1940, winning its 8 electoral votes.

How many electoral votes did West Virginia have in 1940?

West Virginia cast 8 electoral votes in the 1940 presidential election.

Did West Virginia vote for the national winner in 1940?

Yes. West Virginia backed Franklin D. Roosevelt, who won the presidency that year.

New Deal CoalitionWV · 8 EV

1940

West Virginia: Roosevelt carries 8 EV.

West Virginia cast its 8 electoral votes for Roosevelt (Democratic). National winner: Franklin D. Roosevelt (Democratic) — West Virginia voted with the national winner this cycle.

West Virginia in 1940

The 1940 contest saw West Virginia line up behind Roosevelt, delivering 8 electoral votes to the Democratic ticket. That placed West Virginia with the eventual winner: Franklin D. Roosevelt went on to take the presidency, and West Virginia was part of his column.

West Virginia stayed in the Democratic column for the 3rd straight cycle, extending a run that began in 1932. West Virginia did not move alone — neighboring Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky broke the same way in 1940. Over its 41 recorded presidential cycles, West Virginia has backed the Democratic party more than any other — 22 times in all. The vote fell within the New Deal Coalition — FDR, civil rights, and the long Democratic majority.

Nationally, Franklin D. Roosevelt finished with 449 of the 531 electoral votes to Wendell Willkie's 82. Franklin D. Roosevelt led the national popular vote with 54.74% of the ballots cast.

The 1940 national map

West Virginia full history →