CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Longtime delegate turned member of the state Senate, Bob Ashley (R-Roane) has decided to challenge another longtime Republican in this year’s primary election.
Ashley filed for office Saturday opposite Donna Boley (R-Pleasants), according to the Secretary of State’s website.
Ashley could have filed to run for the other seat open in the 3rd Senatorial District, the seat he now holds. He was appointed last year by Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin to replace Sen. David Nohe (R-Wood) after Nohe resigned last year. There are two years left in that four-year term. The race has drawn three candidates, two Republicans and one Democrat.
Republicans currently hold an 18-16 edge in the Senate. Half of the Senate’s 34 seats are up for election this year. Four seats, District 2, District 6, District 10, District 16 are wide open with decisions from Senate President Bill Cole (R-Mercer) and Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) to run for governor and senators Bill Laird (D-Fayette) and Herb Snyder (D-Jefferson) deciding not to seek reelection.
The remaining 13 senators seeking reelection will all face opposition either in the primary or general elections.