Third District Congressman Nick Rahall says no one should have a “cake walk” into the U.S. Senate.
“We have to vet out who’s really got the fire in the belly to take upon this race because it is hard work,” Congressman Rahall said on Wednesday’s MetroNews Talkline.
Congressman Rahall, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since first being elected in 1976, says he is considering a possible U.S. Senate run in 2014.
However, he says he knows many other people are seriously looking at such a move as well.
“I don’t think any door should be foreclosed upon the future of our great state,” the Congressman said. “It’s incumbent upon all candidates on both sides of the aisle, even independents, to look at this seat and decide, in their heart, what’s best for West Virginia.”
Last Friday, U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller announced he will not seek reelection in 2014. He says his current U.S. Senate term, his fifth, will be his last. In total, he has worked in public service for 50 years.
“I commend him for making the decision he has made at an early date,” Congressman Rahall said. “We have plenty of time to vet out our candidates on both sides.”
Another name that has come up as a possible Democrat contender for the U.S. Senate is Attorney Ralph Baxter.
“Anyone who has a chance to consider that needs to take it seriously,” Baxter said on Wednesday’s MetroNews Talkline as well.
Baxter is retiring as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe, an international law firm based in San Francisco. The law firm has offices across the United States, including in the Mountain State.
He is not as widely known as Congressman Rahall. However, in the past, Baxter has been active in politics and public service in West Virginia. He grew up near Weirton and has a home in Wheeling.
“Now I’m going to be there on a full time basis and I can really turn to focusing on how I can best make a contribution to give back to West Virginia,” Baxter said.
Former U.S. Senator Carte Goodwin, who was appointed to the Senate briefly in 2010, told MetroNews earlier this week he would not rule out a possible Senate run.
Former Governor Gaston Caperton has said he will likely let his time as Governor serve as the end of his political career.
Current Second District Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican, announced her plans to run for the U.S. Senate in 2014 last November.