US Senate:
GOP U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito and Democratic Secretary of State Natalie Tennant each face two longshots in primaries for retiring U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller’s Democratic seat. Their presumed November matchup is a significant one in the battle for control of the narrowly Democratic Senate.
Democratic Primary
NATALIE TENNANT
Age: 46
Hometown: Charleston
Occupation: West Virginia secretary of state
Political experience: Elected as Democratic secretary of state in 2008. Re-elected in 2012.
Education: Bachelor’s degree, West Virginia University
Endorsements: Charleston Gazette; U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin; U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller; West Virginia AFL-CIO; AFSCME; EMILY’s List; Maj. Gen. Allen Tackett, ret.; National Education Association/West Virginia Education Association; American Federation of Teachers (West Virginia); Service Employees International Union; American Association for Justice; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; Teamsters; Communications Workers of America; United Steelworkers; Sheet Metal Workers; Plumbers/Pipefitters; Operating Engineers; Asbestos Workers; Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; The United Food and Commercial Workers; United Automobile Workers; American Federation of Government Employees; National Elevator Constructors; International Brotherhood of Boilermakers; Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Contributions: $1.5 million
Cash on hand: $1.1 million
Campaign: https://natalietennant.com/
DENNIS MELTON
Age: 55
Hometown: Buckhannon
Occupation: Electrician
Political experience: None
Education: One year at Salem College
Endorsements: None
Contributions: $0
Cash on hand: $0
Campaign: N/A
DAVID WAMSLEY
Age: 64
Hometown: Williamstown
Occupation: School psychologist, real estate investor
Political experience: None
Education: Bachelor’s degree, West Virginia Wesleyan College; master’s degree, Miami University (Ohio); took doctoral classes at Indiana University at Pennsylvania.
Endorsements: None
Contributions: $5,218
Cash on hand: $798
Campaign: https://davidbwamsley.com/
Republican Primary
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO
Age: 60
Hometown: Charleston
Occupation: Congresswoman in West Virginia’s second district
Political experience: Elected to W.Va. House of Delegates in 1996, re-elected in 1998; elected to U.S. House of Representatives in 2000 and subsequently re-elected.
Education: Bachelor’s degree, Duke University; master’s degree, University of Virginia
Endorsements: Maggie’s List; ShePAC; U.S. Chamber of Commerce; West Virginia Farm PAC; WV Citizens for Coal, West Virginia Coal Association; Charleston Regional Chamber of Commerce
Contributions: $4.1 million
Cash on hand: $4.2 million
Campaign: https://www.capitoforsenate.com/
MATTHEW DODRILL
Age: 35
Hometown: Parkersburg
Occupation: Real estate investor
Political experience: None
Education: Bachelor’s degree, regents bachelor’s degree and associate’s from West Virginia University at Parkersburg
Endorsements: None
Contributions: $0
Cash on hand: $0
Campaign: www.matthewdodrill.com
LARRY EUGENE BUTCHER
Age: 62
Hometown: Washington
Occupation: Former craftsman
Political experience: ran unsuccessfully as Democrat for state Senate in 1990 and 1994, for governor in 1992; changed to Republican in 1999; ran for governor in 2000, state Senate in 2006
Education: received G.E.D. with the Air Force; three semesters at Parkersburg Community College
Endorsements: None
Contributions: $0
Cash on hand: $0
Campaign: N/A
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