West Virginia is holding a special gubernatorial election later this year, to choose a new Governor. The Mountain Party will hold a nominating convention on May 1, and will probably nominate someone to run for Governor. The last elected Governor, Joe Manchin, resigned the Governorship after he was elected to the U.S. Senate in November 2010.

The Mountain Party is West Virginia’s only ballot-qualified party, other than the Democratic and Republican Parties. It is the Green Party affiliate in West Virginia, and has been on the ballot continuously since 2000. None of West Virginia’s unqualified minor parties expect to conduct a petition drive to enter the special gubernatorial election.