HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Cabell County State Sen. Evan Jenkins claims he left the Democrat Party over “an agenda that I simply cannot support” and plans to seek a Congressional seat under the GOP banner in 2014.
Next year Jenkins plans to challenge Democratic Congressman Rahall, who has been in office since 1976.
On Wednesday’s MetroNews “Talkline,” Jenkins said he retains the same political values.
“My priorities have not changed—my party has changed,” he said. “I think where I can be most helpful, most useful, is to be a member of the Republican Party and make sure we have a Republican vote, going to Washington, standing up for Southern West Virginia.”
There have been reports the National Republican Congressional Committee heavily recruited Jenkins in recent weeks to challenge Rahall. But Jenkins said he came to the decision on his own.
“The Republicans in Washington have offered me and promised me nothing,” he said.”This is a decision that I came to out of just a firm, personal conviction of how best to fight for jobs, how best to promote quality education, how best to protect rights and freedoms.”
Jenkins has served in the 5th Senate District—an area that covers parts of Cabell County and Wayne County—since 2002. Before that, he spent three terms in the state House of Delegates.
He said he plans to serve out his third State Senate term as a Republican. It will end next year.