Jay Wolfe

Jay Wolfe
Member of the West Virginia Senate
from the 13th district
In office
December 1, 1986 – December 1, 1990
Succeeded byJoseph M. Minard
Personal details
Born (1955-04-05) April 5, 1955 (age 69)
Parkersburg, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseMollie Wolfe
ResidenceClarksburg, West Virginia
Alma materGlenville State College
ProfessionLegislator, business owner

Jay Wolfe (born April 5, 1955) is an American business owner and former West Virginia state senator, and U.S. Senate candidate.

Early life, education, and business career

Wolfe was born in Parkersburg, West Virginia[1] to Donald and Emogene Moore Wolfe. He graduated from Parkersburg South High School in 1973. He attended Marshall University and graduated from Glenville State College in 1977 with a degree in business administration.[2]

He owns Wolfe Rentals LLC and Wolfe-Furner Insurance Inc.[3]

Political career

In the 1980s, Wolfe was elected to one term in the West Virginia Senate. He was also a member of the Harrison County and state Republican executive committees.

1988 U.S. Senate campaign

Main article: 1988 United States Senate election in West Virginia

Wolfe lost to incumbent Democrat Robert C. Byrd, but his 35.2% of the vote was the highest percentage that any of Byrd's opponents had scored since his first Senate win in 1958 over Chapman Revercomb (who received 40.8% that year). Byrd outspent Wolfe by $3 million to $200,000.

2002 U.S. Senate campaign

Main article: 2002 United States Senate election in West Virginia

Wolfe lost to incumbent Democrat Jay Rockefeller, receiving 36.9% of the vote. Rockefeller outspent Wolfe by $5 million to $150,000.

2008 U.S. Senate campaign

Main article: 2008 United States Senate election in West Virginia

Wolfe lost a rematch with Rockefeller by a nearly identical margin (he received 36.3% of the vote), but with Rockefeller spending more than he did in 2002.

Electoral history

West Virginia United States Senate election, 1988[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Robert Byrd (inc.) 410,983 64.8%
Republican Jay Wolfe 223,564 35.2%
Majority
Turnout
Democratic hold Swing
West Virginia U.S. Senate Election, 2002[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Rockefeller 275,281 63.11 −13.54
Republican Jay Wolfe 160,902 36.89 +13.54
Majority 114,379 26.22 −27.08
Turnout 436,183
Democratic hold
United States Senate election in West Virginia, 2008[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Jay Rockefeller 447,560 63.7 +0.6
Republican Jay Wolfe 254,629 36.3 −0.6
Majority 192,931
Turnout 702,189
Democratic hold Swing

Personal life

Wolfe married his high school girlfriend, Mollie. They have been married for over 40 years. He has four children and ten grandchildren.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Parkersburg, West Virginia". City-Data.com. Retrieved June 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "Jay Wolfe, Candidate for West Virginia U.S. Senate". Archived from the original on 2010-12-04. Retrieved 2010-11-05.
  3. ^ "Jay Wolfe (R)". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2012-10-02.
  4. ^ "Our Campaigns - WV US Senate Race - Nov 08, 1988".
  5. ^ "Our Campaigns - WV US Senate Race - Nov 05, 2002".
  6. ^ "U.S. Senate: West Virginia". CNN. 2008-11-04. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
  7. ^ "WVPubcast News". www.wvpubcast.org. Archived from the original on 2008-10-14.
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from West Virginia
(Class 1)
1988 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Betty Burks
 Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from West Virginia
(Class 2)
2002, 2008 		Succeeded by