1990 West Virginia Attorney General special election

1990 West Virginia Attorney General special election

← 1988 November 6, 1990 1992 →

Nominee Mario Palumbo Party Democratic Popular vote 271,685 Percentage 100.00%

County results Palumbo:      100%

Attorney General before election Roger W. Tompkins Democratic Elected Attorney General Mario Palumbo Democratic

The 1990 West Virginia Attorney General special election took place on November 6, 1990, to elect the Attorney General of West Virginia. The election was held to complete the unexpired term of Charlie Brown, who resigned in August 1989 to end a grand jury investigation against him. Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Roger W. Tompkins, who was appointed by governor Gaston Caperton, chose not to seek election to a full term.

Former Democratic State Senator Mario Palumbo won the general election unopposed, as the Republicans did not field a candidate.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mario Palumbo, former state senator from the 8th district (1968-1988) and candidate for Governor in 1988.^[1]

Eliminated in primary

• Brenda Craig Ellis, former Deputy Attorney General.^[2]
• Richard Facemire, Clay County prosecutor.

Declined

Roger W. Tompkins, incumbent Attorney General and former Majority leader of the West Virginia House of Delegates.

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mario Palumbo	Brenda Ellis	Richard Facemire	Undecided
West Virginia Poll[3]	Feb. 5 - 8, 1990	214 (V)	± 4.5%	33%	15%	6%	46%
West Virginia Poll[4]	Feb. 26 - 28, 1990	390 (V)	± 5%	30.5%	19%	17.9%	32.6%

Results

May 8, Democratic primary^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mario Palumbo	128,492	59.07%
	Democratic	Brenda Craig Ellis	53,845	24.76%
	Democratic	Richard Facemire	35,185	16.17%
Total votes			217,522	100.00%

General election

Results

1990 West Virginia Attorney General special election^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Mario Palumbo	271,685	100.00%
Total votes			271,685	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

1. Mark Paxton (February 1, 1990). "Attorney general race heating up". Williamson Daily News.
2. "Ellis seeking attorney general nomination". Point Pleasant Register. February 9, 1990.
3. Peter Mattiace (February 12, 1990). "Poll: Bailey and Palumbo lead races". Williamson Daily News.
4. Peter Mattiace (May 3, 1990). "Poll: Race is too close to call". Williamson Daily News.
5. "West Virginia Blue Book - 1991 - Page 684" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature.
6. "West Virginia Blue Book - 1991 - Page 719" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature.