CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Republican Party is rolling out the welcome mat for Cabell County State Senator Evan Jenkins who is now a Republican.
Jenkins had been a Democrat since beginning his political career, but he changed his party affiliation and launched his Congressional campaign on Wednesday in Huntington.
“Senator Jenkins is the finest example of an elected official who sees that West Virginia’s future must take precedence over the parties of the past,” said state Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas.
“We welcome Senator Evan Jenkins and those who can cross the aisle to join conservatives whose top priority is West Virginia.”
Jenkins will run for Congress as a Republican. He will challenge longtime Third District Congressman Nick Rahall, a Democrat, in 2014. Rahall was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1976.
State Democratic Party Chairman Larry Puccio called Jenkins an “opportunist” and said he thinks Jenkins is making “a terrible mistake.”
“After years of supporting Congressman Rahall, it is clear Evan Jenkins is loyal only to the dollar,” said Puccio. “When Washington Republican money came a knockin’, Jenkins went a walkin.'”
In a Wednesday statement, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) said the following of Jenkins’ Congressional campaign:
“Evan Jenkins’ decision to join the Republican Party and run for Congress in West Virginia’s Third Congressional District is proof positive that West Virginians are preparing to fight back against President Obama’s War on Coal and Congressman Rahall’s out of touch support for the anti-coal, ‘Progressive Budget.'”
Senate President Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) stripped Jenkins of his Senate leadership positions on Tuesday night, before Jenkins officially changed his party affiliation at the Cabell County Courthouse on Wednesday morning.
“I was tired of him playing footsie with the other side,” said Kessler. “You’re either going to be on our team and wear the right jersey or you’re going to wear the visitor’s jersey and have to play on the visitor’s team.”
Most recently, Jenkins was Chairman of the Minority Affairs and Pensions Committees and Vice Chairman of Health and Human Resources.
He has served in the 5th Senatorial District, which includes parts of Cabell County and Wayne County, since 2002. He has said he will serve out his current term as a Republican.