W.Va.: Republican Underwood Takes Governor's Race

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AllPolitics Nov. 6) -- West Virginia voters gave Republican Cecil Underwood a happy 74th birthday Tuesday, sending him back to the governor's chair and giving him bookends in the record book -- he is both the oldest and the youngest person ever elected governor of West Virginia.

With 89 percent of precincts reporting, Underwood led Democrat Charlotte Pritt 52 percent to 46 percent.

Underwood was the youngest to hold the post when he was first elected in 1956, and turning 74 on election day, he become the oldest. He called the campaign "the most gratifying political experience I ever had," but said one of the first things he intended to do was "get a little rest."

Underwood's victory shifts power in the West Virginia statehouse to the Republicans. Democratic Gov. Gaston Caperton, elected in 1988 and 1992, could not run again due to term limitations.

Pritt, who survived a bitter primary fight, was vying to become West Virginia's first female governor.

Underwood had failed in three previous gubernatorial campaigns, in 1964, 1976 and in the 1968 primaries. He also lost a 1960 bid for the U.S. Senate.

Related Site:

• West Virginia gubernatorial candidate - Cecil Underwood(R)