CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Third District Congressman Evan Jenkins told MetroNews Thursday he’s “seriously considering” a run for state Supreme Court in the November General Election.
Jenkins, whose second two-year term in the U.S. House ends later this year, would seek the seat that’s coming up following the resignation/retirement of Justice Menis Ketchum. That retirement took effect last Friday. Ketchum was charged with wire fraud in a federal information Tuesday. He’s scheduled to plead guilty in the near future.
Jenkins met with Gov. Jim Justice Wednesday and Justice tweeted Jenkins’ interest in the Supreme Court after the meeting, complete with a photo of Justice shaking Jenkins’ hand.
“Today I met with Evan Jenkins, and he told me he is considering running for the West Virginia Supreme Court. We need people with honesty and integrity to restore trust to the Court!”
Today I met with Evan Jenkins, and he told me he is considering running for the West Virginia Supreme Court. We need people with honesty and integrity to restore trust to the Court! #WV #WVGov pic.twitter.com/7A5bm6OP4a
— Governor Jim Justice (@WVGovernor) August 1, 2018
House of Delegates Minority Leader Tim Miley took a shot at the endorsement tweeting, “An endorsement by Governor Justice is the kiss of death for anybody.”
An endorsement by Governor Justice is the kiss of death for anybody.
— Tim Miley (@TimMileyWV) August 2, 2018
Jenkins lost his bid to move up to the U.S. Senate when he finished behind state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey in the May GOP Primary.
The run for the High Court seat will be a short campaign. The filing period begins Monday with the election 13 weeks later.