7 Republicans file to challenge popular Democratic W.Va. gov for Byrd’s US Senate seat

W.Va.’s US Senate seat attracts 7 GOP candidates

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Seven Republicans are now in the race to challenge West Virginia’s popular Democratic governor for the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Robert C. Byrd.

The best-known are recent U.S. House candidate Mac Warner, and industrialist John Raese. They enter a field that includes Gov. Joe Manchin and two other Democrats.

The parties will hold Aug. 28 primaries before the Nov. 2 general election. The filing period ends Friday.

Raese has run for Senate without success, but is well funded. Warner lost the May primary in the 1st Congressional District.

Also filing Thursday were Albert Howard, Thomas Ressler, Lynette Kennedy McQuain, Scott H. Williams, Kenneth A. Culp and Daniel Scott Rebich. The other Democrats are Ken Hechler and Sheirl Fletcher.