1968 West Virginia Secretary of State election

1968 West Virginia Secretary of State election

← 1964 November 5, 1968 1972 →

Nominee Jay Rockefeller John S. Callebs Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 433,142 277,877 Percentage 60.92% 39.08%

Secretary of State before election Robert D. Bailey Jr. Democratic Elected Secretary of State Jay Rockefeller Democratic

The 1968 West Virginia Secretary of State election was held on November 5, 1968, to elect the Secretary of State of West Virginia. Democratic incumbent Robert D. Bailey Jr., first appointed in 1965, chose not to run for election to a full term. Democratic West Virginia House of Delegates member Jay Rockefeller won the election, defeating Republican college professor John S. Callebs by twenty-one percentage points.

Democratic primary

Nominee

• Jay Rockefeller, Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from Kanawha County (1966–1968)

Eliminated in primary

• Orel J. Skeen, former West Virginia State Treasurer (1956–1960)
• Richard Baylor, school teacher

Results

Democratic primary results^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jay Rockefeller	218,050	74.76%
	Democratic	Orel J. Skeen	43,907	15.05%
	Democratic	Richard Baylor	29,714	10.19%
Total votes			291,671	100.00%

Republican primary

Nominee

• John S. Callebs, college professor

Results

Republican primary results^[2]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John S. Callebs	133,298	100.00%
Total votes			133,298	100.00%

General election

Candidates

• Jay Rockefeller, Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from Kanawha County (1966–1968) (Democratic)
• John S. Callebs, college professor (Republican)

Results

1968 West Virginia Secretary of State election results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Jay Rockefeller	433,142	60.92%	+0.07%
	Republican	John S. Callebs	277,877	39.08%	−0.07%
Total votes			711,019	100.00%
	Democratic hold

References

1. "1968 Primary Election - Official Returns of the Democratic Party.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
2. "1968 Primary Election - Official Returns of the Republican Party.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 15, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2026.
3. "1968 General Election - Official Election Returns.pdf" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 18, 2019. Retrieved June 15, 2026.