West Virginia is holding a special gubernatorial election in October 2011, and a primary for that election will be held in May. Only the Democratic and Republican Parties will hold primaries. Filing for the primary has closed, with six Democrats and eight Republicans running. See this story. The reporter who wrote it did not seem aware that there may be more than just Republicans and Democrats running.

The Mountain Party (the ballot-qualified affiliate of the Green Party in West Virginia) will decide in April or May whether to nominate a gubernatorial candidate, and if so, will choose that candidate in a convention. The unqualified parties are free to run someone if they file a petition of 1,700 valid signatures and a filing fee in May. Or they may file a second petition in lieu of the filing fee.