[2] Republican incumbent David McKinley, who has represented the 1st district since 2011, easily won re-election, defeating Sue Thorn, a "community organizer", receiving 62% of the vote.

Republican incumbent Shelley Moore Capito, who has represented the 2nd district since 2001, easily won re-election.

[5] Incumbent Democratic Governor Earl Ray Tomblin, who has held the position since 2010, won a full term in his own right, defeating Bill Maloney, a businessman who ran as the Republican nominee in the aforementioned 2011 special election.

Democratic incumbent Natalie Tennant, was re-elected easily, receiving 62% of the vote over state delegate Brian Savilla.

[6] In April of 2016, Gainer announced he would resign[7] before the end of his term to accept a job as President and CEO of the National White Collar Crime Center, beginning May 15.

[8] Lisa Hopkins, who had served as general counsel and deputy commissioner of securities since 2001, was appointed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin as Gainer's replacement on May 13 and she took office 2 days later.

[10] State Senator Walt Helmick sought and received the Democratic nomination to succeed Douglass.

[12] Mike Teets, a cattleman who unsuccessfully challenged Douglass in 2008, has planned to run but dropped out of the race in February 2012.

Beane; Letitia Neese Chafin, a lawyer and wife of state Senator H. Truman Chafin; Louis Palmer, a Supreme Court clerk; H. John "Buck" Rogers, a lawyer; and, Greenbrier County Circuit Judge Jim Rowe, in the Democratic primary.