Tag: W.Va. Politics

W.Va. Secretary of State Sending Postcards to Unregistered Voters

West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant’s office is sending postcards to residents who may be eligible to vote but haven’t registered.

The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 18. The election is Nov. 8.

The postcards are also being sent to help ensure that the state’s voter rolls are up to date. The mailing list was compiled by comparing statewide voter registration records from the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles.

The mailing is part of the state’s membership with the Electronic Registration Information Center, a nonprofit organization that works to help states improve voter roll accuracy and increase voter registration access.

Anyone who believes a postcard was sent in error should check voter registration status at http://www.govotewv.com . For further questions, contact the local county clerk or Tennant’s office at (304) 558-6000.

Watch or Listen to the Gubernatorial Debate on West Virginia Public Broadcasting

West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) plans to provide live coverage of the first televised debate between GOP Senate President Bill Cole and Democratic candidate Jim Justice.

The debate is scheduled from 7 – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 4. It is sponsored by the West Virginia Press Association and AARP West Virginia.

West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Ashton Marra will moderate the debate, and West Virginia Public Broadcasting is providing the pool feed of the event for other media.

The debate is scheduled to be broadcast on WVPB’s statewide television and radio network, and streamed online at wvpublic.org. WVPB reporters also plan to live-tweet the event from our @wvpublicnews Twitter account.

Watch an archive of the debate and analysis

At 8 p.m. tune into the West Virginia Channel for a 30-minute roundtable discussion of the debate, hosted by Rick Lord of WCHS-TV. The roundtable will also be broadcast on WVPB’s radio network and on wvpublic.org.

At 8:30, WVPB’s radio network will air a Viewpoint special about the election. Additional coverage of the 2016 W.Va. general election is available through the Viewpoint weekly political podcast.

At 9 p.m, the Vice Presidential debate is scheduled to air on WVPB’s statewide television and radio network, and online at wvpublic.org.

 

McKinley to Skip Gubernatorial Bid, Will Run for Re-Election to Congress

Congressman David McKinley announced his intentions Monday to run for re-election in West Virginia’s 1st District after earlier statements that he would consider leaving Washington to run for governor.

McKinley’s announcement, which came on a conference call with reporters, marks the first official announcement by a prospective Republican gubernatorial candidate either way in the race.

McKinley maintains the state Republican Party was not involved in his decision to stay in Washington. Instead, the Congressman said he and his wife decided to put aside “personal aspirations” and fight for the West Virginians who have lost their jobs in the mining industry.

“These are products, these are casualties of a war on coal and that war on coal didn’t originated in Charleston,” McKinley said. “It came from the Whitehouse and that’s where I think I can serve best is back here in Washington as a member of Congress.”

McKinley’s announcement paves the way for Senate President Bill Cole to declare his run for the Republican nomination. Cole’s website is already up and running and he’s scheduled to make the official announcement Tuesday morning at his Nissan dealership in Bluefield. 

On the Democratic side, only Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler and coal baron and Greenbrier resort owner Jim Justice have filed to run for the state’s top office.

Ex-W.Va. Delegate Manypenny Files Early Papers for Congressional Run

  Former state Delegate Mike Manypenny has opened an early campaign account to run for Congress in northern West Virginia.

On Monday, the Democrat filed paperwork to start raising money to run in the 1st Congressional District.

Republican Congressman David McKinley first won the seat in 2010. If McKinley opts to run for governor, the decision would result in an open congressional race.

Manypenny first won a seat in the House of Delegates in 2008. The former Grafton lawmaker lost his seat in the 2014 general election to Republican Delegate Amy Summers.

Tomblin Says He Hasn't Decided on Possible Congressional Bid

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin says he has been asked about running for Congress, and hasn’t decided either way yet.

The Logan County Democrat told The Associated Press he has been approached about vying for the 3rd Congressional District seat next year. The southern West Virginia seat is currently filled by freshman Republican Congressman Evan Jenkins.

Tomblin said he hasn’t made “any final decisions on anything yet,” adding that he’s keeping the door open.

Tomblin cannot run for re-election because he is reaching his term limits. The opening for governor is expected to draw a competitive field.

Tomblin won a special election for governor in 2011 and was re-elected in 2012.

Tomblin was appointed acting governor in November 2010 to replace Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin when he headed to Washington.

Greenbrier Owner Jim Justice: Decision on Gubernatorial Run Coming in Two to Three Weeks

Greenbrier resort owner Jim Justice says he expects to make a decision in two to three weeks on whether he'll run for governor in West Virginia in 2016.He…

Greenbrier resort owner Jim Justice says he expects to make a decision in two to three weeks on whether he’ll run for governor in West Virginia in 2016.

He told The Associated Press on Wednesday his interest is based largely on helping West Virginia’s economy.

The 63-year-old Democrat says he’s also been a registered Republican and an independent voter.

Democratic Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has reached his term limit. Democratic U.S. Sen Joe Manchin said Sunday he would seek another Senate term in 2018 rather than run for governor.

Other possible candidates who haven’t announced they will run for governor include Republican state Senate President Bill Cole, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and U.S. Rep. David McKinley, and Democratic Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler and U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.

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