MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Two Democratic hopefuls have both officially filed their candidacy in West Virginia’s First Congressional District.
WVU Law Professor Kendra Fershee and former Orrick CEO Ralph Baxter each filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s Office Thursday. Thus far, they remain the only two candidates to file or declare their candidacy for May’s Democratic Primary.
The winner of that primary is expected to face incumbent Republican Congressman David McKinley, who has served in that role since defeating former West Virginia State Senator Mike Oliverio in a Republican wave election in 2010. Long-time Congressman Alan Mollohan lost in the Democratic Primary to Oliverio that year. Including McKinley, the GOP picked up 63 seats and control of the House of Representatives.
Fershee, who is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at WVU’s College of Law, previously told MetroNews that she believes Congress needs more working parents. She has also advocated for the full legalization of medical marijuana.
Baxter, thus far, has staked his campaign on the need to treat the opioid crisis “like a traditional war” in terms of funding and his past experience as a job creator.
You can read more about Fershee here and Baxter here.
The filing deadline is midnight Saturday, Jan. 27.