A Primary Challenger For West Virginia Rep. Rahall?

[ccharles000]

A West Virginia legislator may challenge Rep. Nick J. Rahall II (D-W.V.) in a primary next spring in the southern 3rd district.

State Rep. Ralph Rodighiero last Friday filed as a "pre-candidate" with the state board of elections, a preliminary step that could pave the way for him to formally challenge Rahall in May.

Rodighiero, who doesn't yet have paperwork on file with the Federal Election Commission, told the Associated Press that coal industry figures encouraged him to seek the seat. He said he would formally file for the race during the official candidate filing period in January if he's raised at least $400,000 -- a tall order.

CQ Politics left phone and e-mail messages for Rodighiero and will update this post if he responds to the request.

Rodighiero is in his second term representing a district that takes in all or parts of four counties in southern West Virginia.

Rahall faced Democratic opposition in five of his 16 re-election campaigns, most recently in 2002, when he was renominated with 87 percent of the vote. His only serious primary challenges came in 1978 and 1990, when he defeated former Rep. Ken Hechler.

Republican Lee Bias has filed paperwork with the FEC and with West Virginia election officials. Republicans Marty Gearheart and Conrad G. Lucas have filed with the FEC.

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