Race To Replace Robert Byrd Attracts 15 Candidates, Including 11 Republicans

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The special election for the late Robert C. Byrd's U.S. Senate seat in West Virginia has attracted 15 candidates.

The Mountain Party's Jesse Johnson entered the race on Friday before the filing period ended. So did Frank T. Kubic of Charles Town, the 11th Republican to seek the seat.

They join three Democrats who include Gov. Joe Manchin, seen as the overall front-runner, and former congressman and secretary of state Ken Hechler. The 10 other Republicans who filed include recent U.S. House candidate Mac Warner and industrialist John Raese.

Secretary of State Natalie Tennant will certify candidates Saturday. Party primaries will be held Aug. 28 and the general election is Nov. 2.

Comments

[greenferret]

04:54 PM on 07/28/2010

Don't kid yourself that Manchin replacing Byrd would be anything but a step backward for progressives. Manchin and most of the WV Democratic Party are totally in the pocket of King Coal. The only party in WV that opposes mountaintop removal - ground zero for global climate change - and supports a clean energy future is the Mountain Party, represented in this race by Jesse Johnson.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Johnson_%28politician%29

[AbeMartin]

07:26 AM on 07/26/2010

Unemployment is so high in West Virginia that anyone who needs a job and can afford the filing fee and get the necessary signatures is going to run

[Dem4us]

04:16 AM on 07/26/2010

I am really hoping that Sen. Byrds seat goes to a democrat, like Sen. Carte Goodwin. a democrat has sat in that seat for 51 years. is that a good thing, becuase Byrd was elected again and again, he must ahve done something right as a democrat. I'm just saying.

[jtackeff]

09:33 AM on 07/26/2010

its going to a Dem, its going to Gov. Manchin.

[Jack Cox]

12:40 AM on 07/26/2010

Is Capito running?

[jtackeff]

09:33 AM on 07/26/2010

She is not. According to almost everybody I know on the ground, this will be a slam dunk for Gov. Manchin

[MsLiz]

12:16 AM on 07/26/2010

If I lived in West Virginia, I'd run. I need a job that I can keep for the rest of my life.

[GerryS]

10:31 PM on 07/25/2010

"Race To Replace Robert Byrd Attracts 15 Candidates, Including 11 Republicans "

looks like there are a few people looking for free health insurance for life-----------

[allejandro]

07:16 PM on 07/25/2010

And I thought the official statistics for job openings these days were 5 candidates for every one opening.

Guess that statistic doesn't apply when you're talking about Repuglicant's who can't stand the size of the Federal government but crawl all over each other to get to Congress.

[Friction57]

07:40 PM on 07/25/2010

x 2

have #11

[Hardyman1966]

08:40 PM on 07/25/2010

(looks at big, pretty, red button that says "Press and Hold")

Many of them just don't like the size of a Democratic federal government led by a black man.

#12

[kennyfasugbe]

07:09 PM on 07/25/2010

Does anyone know if Dems are keeping this seat? I hope so for the sake of progressive landscape in America.

[allejandro]

07:17 PM on 07/25/2010

State's governor (Dem) is the front-runner, but West Virginia's such a screwed up and very conservative pro-big business anti-environment state, it could easily go Republican.

[kennyfasugbe]

07:22 PM on 07/25/2010

I still keep wondering, why do the conservatives hate justice and fairness so much? Why do they hate America this much? Could anyone please help me with this?

[Jim McKay]

08:32 PM on 07/25/2010

Gov. Manchin will win. He leads the nearest competitor by almost 20 pts. He's a conservative Democrat who won his 2nd term in 2008 by the highest margin in WV history. His approval ratings are about 70%.

He was flanked by the AFL-CIO and the State Chamber of Commerce at his announcement for Senate.

[tkns]

06:55 PM on 07/25/2010

11 Repubs- I hate govt. I hate unemployed. I hate health care. I hate socila security. Ooh a job that lasts at least six years, full 6 figure govt salary, full health care and pension-no qualifications needed. Oh let me in-I need me a govt job with pensions and health care .

[dzadzey]

06:53 PM on 07/25/2010

15 candidates, and all crookeder than a dog's hind leg.

[RBN]

06:47 PM on 07/25/2010

It's a job, I would've expected more candidates.

[kaptaintripps]

06:37 PM on 07/25/2010

No kidding! If ever there was a time to get in on the Lobbying-Free-Ride Money in Washington, D.C....it's now. (And I'm a Progressive--before you start bashing me.)

[BannedNBoston]

02:30 PM on 07/25/2010

Another BLUE RAT DOG isnt that the name Bob Weirs Band?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Evqr855igU&NR=1

[slider79]

02:27 PM on 07/25/2010

Hechler by name,
Hechler by nature,
let's send Hechler to the legisalture!!!

Huffpost needs to realize the progressive in WV are all lining up behing Ken Hechler. Yeah, we're taking our state BACK!!!

[kennyfasugbe]

07:11 PM on 07/25/2010

Are you kidding me? The guy's chance of making it to election day is 1 in 1000! He is tooooo old at 95!

[Hardyman1966]

08:44 PM on 07/25/2010

95? My parents are in their upper 70's and I don't like them using the remote.

[allejandro]

07:18 PM on 07/25/2010

Progressives in West Virginia? All ten on the University of West Virginia faculty right?

[chancho24]

01:24 PM on 07/25/2010

Repubs are coveting Byrd's seat... lmao!

[maidenofdforest]

01:54 PM on 07/25/2010

They are extremely obsessed to counter every Democratic legislation being put up in the senate and the house the covetoueness is not surprising.