CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Monday marks the first day the state Republican Party can file a lawsuit against the state Election Commission in connection with a ballot controversy in Kanawha County.
The West Virginia Republican Party and the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee notified the state 30-days ago that it may file a legal challenge to the SEC’s decision not to replace Kanawha County Del. Suzette Raines on the Nov. 4 General Election ballot. The 30-day notification requirement is in state code.
The GOP could file a challenge with the state Supreme Court as early as Monday morning. The decision by the SEC means there are currently just three Republicans in the race for four positions in the House of Delegates 35th District. There are four Democrats in the race.
Raines was nominated in the May Primary Election but dropped out because of personal issues but the election panel ruled the circumstances did not reach the point where they would prevent Raines from serving if she would have remained on the ballot and been elected.
The Republican Party has maintained the SEC erred in its decision and promised a legal challenge.
Meanwhile, the ballots for the 35th Delegate District race in Kanawha County have already been sent to the printer. Kanawha County Clerk Vera McCormick has said she’ll have the ballots in that district reprinted, about 50,000, if the Court orders her to do so.
West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas didn’t tip his hand last week on what the party might do but said the Republican candidates in the other House races across the state are doing well. He said door-to-door campaigning is being well-received. The GOP is just a few spots from taking over the House and Lucas said don’t be surprised if Republicans pick up several seats in the state Senate and possibly win control of the Senate.