West Virginia has been holding presidential primaries since 1916, and will do so again in May 2008. However, most of the West Virginia delegates to the 2008 Republican convention will be chosen by a special state party convention on February 5, 2008. The West Virginia Republican Party sends 27 delegates to Minneapolis. Fifteen of them will be chosen at the party’s February convention and only nine of them will be chosen by the Republican voters in May.

West Virginia Democrats send 39 delegates to Denver. However, only 18 will be chosen in the primary. Nine will be chosen by a state convention in June and 12 other seats are reserved for particular party officials and public officials.