2012 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election

none 2012 11 06 West Virginia 2012 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election presidential no 2008 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election 2008 2016 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election 2016 Commissioner of Agriculture West Virginia Democratic Party Gus Douglass Walt Helmick West Virginia Democratic Party 250px County results 250px Congressional district results Helmick: #7996E2 50–60% #6674DE 60–70% #584CDE 70–80% Leonhardt: #E27F7F 50–60% #D75D5D 60–70% Walt Helmick West Virginia Democratic Party West Virginia Republican Party Kent Leonhardt 3x4.svg Kent Leonhardt.jpg 316,591 51.59% 297,088 48.41% The 2012 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture election was held on November 6, 2012, to elect the West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture, concurrently with the 2012 U.S. presidential election, as well as elections to the United States Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, governor, and other state and local elections. Primary elections were held on May 8, 2012.January 28, 2012 Flurry of filings for BoE, county offices https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2012/01/29/flurry-filings-for-boe-county/62949825007/ February 14, 2026 The State Journal-Register Incumbent Democratic commissioner Gus Douglass, the longest serving agriculture commissioner in U.S. history, opted not to seek re-election to an eleventh term in office.Kabler Phil November 19, 2011 Phil Kabler: Perdue's troubles may draw candidates https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/phil-kabler-perdues-troubles-may-draw-candidates/article_d733c54c-7185-571a-81ba-2b7cf878abba.html February 14, 2026 Charleston Gazette-MailKabler Phil March 19, 2015 Longtime W.Va. agriculture commissioner Gus Douglass dies https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/longtime-w-va-agriculture-commissioner-gus-douglass-dies/article_def8c738-d7af-5b46-b7ff-7c3b890a0cc1.html February 14, 2026 Charleston Gazette-Mail Democratic state senator Walt Helmick won the open seat over Republican candidate Kent Leonhardt.Harold Zack November 7, 2012 Walt Helmick to replace Gus Douglass as WV Agriculture Secretary https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/walt-helmick-to-replace-gus-douglass-as-wv-agriculture-secretary/article_c386db8d-53dc-5d0d-b796-0d8b1128650e.html February 14, 2026 Charleston Gazette-Mail Helmick later lost re-election in 2016 in a rematch with Leonhardt. Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Walt Helmick, state senator from the 15th district (1994–present) and 12th district (1990–1994) Eliminated in primary Joe Messineo, farmerJanuary 20, 2012 Jefferson’s candidate filings trickling in https://www.shepherdstownchronicle.com/news/local-news/2012/01/20/jefferson-s-candidate-filings-trickling-in/ February 14, 2026 The Shepherdstown Chronicle Steve Miller, assistant agriculture commissionerJanuary 9, 2012 Candidates begin filing for W.Va.’s 2012 ballot https://www.times-news.com/news/local_news/candidates-begin-filing-for-w-va-s-2012-ballot/article_3062a019-42b1-5883-9639-d146c8ac38eb.html limited February 14, 2026 Cumberland Times-News Sally Shepherd, farmer and former waste authority director for Kanawha CountyApril 4, 2012 Election candidate profile: Sally Shepherd https://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/election-candidate-profile-sally-shepherd/article_b6f6109d-65db-5077-85a6-762d1f2179fd.html limited February 14, 2026 The Herald-Dispatch Bob Tabb, deputy commissioner of the West Virginia Department of AgricultureJanuary 20, 2012 Tabb to run in upcoming GOP primary https://www.shepherdstownchronicle.com/news/local-news/2012/01/20/tabb-to-run-in-upcoming-gop-primary/ February 14, 2026 The Shepherdstown Chronicle Tabb stressed the fact that she is running as a Republican candidate in the primary since her brother-in-law, Bob Tabb, is running as a Democratic candidate for commissioner of the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.February 2, 2012 Testimony of Robert Tabb On Behalf of The West Virginia Department of Agriculture Before the Committee on Small Business https://smallbusiness.house.gov/uploadedfiles/tabb_testimony.pdf February 14, 2026 House Committee on Small Business Declined Gus Douglass, incumbent commissioner of agriculture (1993–present, 1965–1989) (endorsed Miller) Endorsements Walt Helmick Local officials Mike Teets, commissioner of Hardy County and nominee for commissioner of agriculture in 2008 (Republican) Steve Miller Statewide officials Gus Douglass, West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture (1993–present, 1965–1989) Results Democratic primary resultsPrimary Election - May 8, 2012 https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2012&eid=8&county=Statewide February 14, 2026 West Virginia Secretary of State West Virginia Democratic Party Walt Helmick 59,376 32.89 West Virginia Democratic Party Sally Shepherd 44,454 24.62 West Virginia Democratic Party Steve Miller 39,130 21.67 West Virginia Democratic Party Joe Messineo 24,613 13.63 West Virginia Democratic Party Bob Tabb 12,976 7.19 180,549 100.0 Republican primary Candidates Nominee Kent Leonhardt, former Marine Corps lieutenant colonelOctober 4, 2012 Helmick Says He Will Debate https://wvmetronews.com/2012/10/04/helmick-says-he-will-debate/ February 14, 2026 WV MetroNews Withdrew Mike Teets, commissioner of Hardy County and nominee for commissioner of agriculture in 2008 (endorsed Helmick)Burdette Whitney November 1, 2011 Teets to Run for Ag Commissioner https://www.wvnews.com/statejournal/news/teets-to-run-for-ag-commissioner/article_17353c69-b050-54be-8159-ff5ece7b86f8.html February 14, 2026 The State JournalRivard Ry April 4, 2012 GOP candidate endorses Democrat for farms chief https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/gop-candidate-endorses-democrat-for-farms-chief/article_43ed2e1a-5a90-5cb5-816e-4a2f2061f511.html February 14, 2026 Charleston Gazette-Mail General election Post-primary endorsements Walt Helmick (D) Labor unions United Mine Workers of AmericaOctober 10, 2012 UMWA COMPAC Endorses Walt Helmick in Ag Race https://www.cnbc.com/2012/10/10/umwa-compac-endorses-walt-helmick-in-ag-race.html February 14, 2026 CNBC Newspapers and other media The Charleston GazetteOctober 23, 2012 Gazette endorsements for 2012 general election https://www.wvgazettemail.com/news/politics/gazette-endorsements-for-2012-general-election/article_315626cf-f259-5f2d-b989-2fc4d2bfd698.html February 14, 2026 Charleston Gazette-Mail The Herald-Dispatch Organizations West Virginia Chamber of CommerceSeptember 14, 2012 Walt Helmick Is Honored by Chamber Endorsement https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/walt-helmick-is-honored-by-chamber-endorsement-169770936.html February 14, 2026 PR Newswire Friends of CoalOctober 10, 2012 Friends of Coal Endorse Walt Helmick https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends_of_Coal February 14, 2026 CNBC NRA Political Victory FundOctober 23, 2012 NRA Endorses Walt Helmick for Agriculture Commissioner https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nra-endorses-walt-helmick-for-agriculture-commissioner-175461901.html February 14, 2026 PR Newswire West Virginia Sheriffs' Association Kent Leonhardt (R) Organizations West Virginia Farm BureauMcElhinny Brad September 19, 2016 W.Va. Farm Bureau expresses beef with state Agriculture Department https://wvmetronews.com/2016/09/19/w-va-farm-bureau-expresses-beef-with-state-agriculture-department/ February 14, 2026 WV MetroNews In the upcoming Agriculture Commissioner race, the Farm Bureau has endorsed Republican Kent Leonhardt over incumbent Democrat Walt Helmick, just as it did in 2012. Results 2012 West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture electionGeneral Election - November 6, 2012 https://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/results.aspx?year=2012&eid=13&county=Statewide February 14, 2026 West Virginia Secretary of State West Virginia Democratic Party Walt Helmick 316,591 51.59 West Virginia Republican Party Kent Leonhardt 297,088 48.41 613,679 100.0 West Virginia Democratic Party By congressional district Helmick won two of three congressional districts, including one that elected a Republican.https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1gOEgshyywHW0or8ucPrDeI3R5PAaCq9JN8kAfpK7-BM/edit?gid=0#gid=0 District Helmick Leonhardt RepresentativeWest Virginia 1 1st 46% 54%David McKinleyWest Virginia 2 2nd 53% 47%Shelley Moore CapitoWest Virginia 3 3rd 57% 43%Nick Rahall References Commissioner of Agriculture Category:West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture elections