CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Libertarian candidates will again appear on the West Virginia ballot after an absence of more than a decade.

The party's nominee for governor attracted enough votes for Libertarians to regain ballot status.

Unofficial results show candidate David Moran received more than 8,700 votes or 1.3% of the total.

State law recognizes parties for ballot access when at least 1% of the gubernatorial vote goes to its candidate.

The Libertarian Party had cleared that threshold in 1996. But it then lost ballot status in the following election for governor, in 2000, when its candidate missed the mark.

The 2000 election saw another alternative party, West Virginia's Mountain Party, win ballot access. That status will continue after its candidate for governor this year, Jesse Johnson, got 2.5%.

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Libertarian Party regains ballot status in W.Va.