Democrat Natalie Tennant Announces She's Seeking Return As West Virginia's Secretary Of State

Former Democratic West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant is running to win back her seat in 2020. 

Tennant made the announcement Thursday morning in a video emailed to news media and her supporters. 

“At this critical time for our state, it is important that our leaders honor the calling of public service by taking seriously the responsibilities and trust West Virginians place in them,” she said in the video. “That’s why I am announcing I am running to serve as your Secretary of State.”

In a press materials accompanying her announcement, Tennant touted a record of improving business licensing, providing greater access to elections and more transparency in government. 

The Democratic stalwart was twice elected as the West Virginia’s Secretary of State — first in 2008 and again in 2012. However, she lost the seat to Republican Mac Warner in 2016 by a margin of less than 2 percentage points.  

Aside from holding office as the state’s chief elections officer, Tennant made a failed bid in 2011 to be her party’s nominee for a gubernatorial special election. She also lost a U.S. Senate race in 2014 to Republican Shelley Moore Capito.

According to campaign finance reports, Tennant has so far raised more than $20,000 for the Secretary of State race. She filed as an undeclared candidate in September. 

Warner, who is also registered as undeclared, has nearly $30,000 on hand for his 2020 re-election bid. 

The official filing period for the upcoming election runs from January 13 to January 25, 2020.