Democrat Tomblin Takes Special Election in West Virginia

Earl Ray Tomblin, who has been serving as acting Governor since Joe Manchin resigned to assume the vacant U.S. Senate seat after the death of long time Senator Robert Byrd defeated Republican challenger Bill Maloney 50% to 47% in a special election Tuesday.  The election decided who would serve the final year of Manchin’s term, set to expire in 2013.

The results, with 94% of the precincts reporting:

Earl Ray Tomblin, Dem 140,303 – 50 percent 

Bill Maloney, GOP 132,907 – 47 percent

Bob Henry Baber, Mnt 5,690 – 2 percent

Marla Ingels, Ind 2,708 – 1 percent

Harry Bertram, Oth 1,071 – 0 percent