CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer, 06) is still not saying what office he’ll be running for in 2016, but he has reportedly set a deadline for a few weeks from now to make a final decision on whether he’ll seek re-election or possibly run for governor.
Cole, 59, is involved in ongoing talks with 1st District Congressman David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey about a potential Republican candidate or candidates.
All three have indicated interest in running for governor, though no Republican has yet announced a gubernatorial campaign.
“That’s the wonderful thing about our democracy. It may be one, it may be two, it may be three,” Cole said. “I certainly hope it’s one at the end of the day. I think that’s the best thing for our party,” noting all three will end their current terms next year.
“All three of us are ‘termed out’ so it’s the sort of all-in play,” he said.
On Tuesday’s MetroNews “Talkline,” Cole dismissed McKinley’s previous claims that poll numbers were on his side (McKinley’s) for a possible run for governor.
“You can get a poll to say anything you want it to, so I don’t put a lot of stock in that,” Cole said.
“I really, truly think we need to figure out who might be best suited to do that job and make our best decision, make what hopefully is the best decision for our state.”
Cole served in the state House of Delegates following an appointment in 2010. He was elected to the state Senate in 2012 and became Senate President when Republicans took control of the Senate with an 18-16 margin following the 2014 general election.
Among Democrats, Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall, 02), former Senate President, and Jim Justice, billionaire businessman, have filed pre-candidacy papers to seek the Democratic gubernatorial nomination next May.
The official candidate filing period is Jan. 11 – Jan. 30, 2016. Primary election day in West Virginia is May 10, 2016.