CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Gov. Joe Manchin has a Democratic challenger in the race to fill the late Robert C. Byrd's U.S. Senate seat.
Former congressman and secretary of state Ken Hechler filed today to run for the seat.
The 95-year-old Hechler has a mixed electoral record.
In the past decade, he lost bids to return the U.S. House of Representatives and the secretary of state's office.
On the Republican side, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito said today she won't run for Byrd's seat.
West Virginia GOP Chairman Doug McKinney says he's not heard from any Republicans seriously weighing a run. He noted that any candidate would likely need to raise several million dollars to mount a credible campaign in a short timeframe.
