CHARLESTON, W.Va. — State Senator Evan Jenkins (D-Cabell) is reportedly being recruited to join the Republican Party and run for Congress against Democratic Third District Congressman Nick Rahall next year.
West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas, though, would not officially confirm those recruitment efforts on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline.” “I speak to folks all the time about running for office,” said Lucas.
“Evan and I are from the same town. We certainly know each other socially and I think he’s a great guy. I think he’d be a great Republican, but I think there are several hundred thousand Democrats in West Virginia who would also be great Republicans.”
Jenkins has served in the 5th Senate district as a Democrat, which covers parts of Cabell County and Wayne County, since 2002. Before that, he was in the state House of Delegates for three terms.
He was briefly a member of the Republican Party after graduating from law school before going Democrat.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has targeted Rahall for defeat in 2014. So far, though, no Republican candidate has stepped forward to challenge the Congressman who was first elected in 1976 and has been reelected every two years since then.
First District Congressman David McKinley, a Republican, said a defeat for Rahall next year would help keep control of the U.S. House out of the hands of Democrats.
“My attitude is, whatever it takes to prevent Nancy Pelosi from being returned to the Speaker (role),” said McKinley when asked about the possible candidacy of Jenkins on Friday’s MetroNews “Talkline.”
McKinley said he does not want to see the Democrats in charge of the White House along with both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.
“The House is the best way that we can stop that from happening and, if that’s what it takes, I guess that’s a plan. That’s at least an idea that can be put out there,” he said of the reports of the recruitment of Jenkins.