CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin has filed pre-candidacy papers to run for governor, according to information posted on the Secretary of State’s website Monday.
The Goodwin for West Virginia Committee filed Jan. 1, but the information wasn’t posted because of the holiday weekend. The filing came a day after Goodwin’s resignation as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia took effect.
Goodwin, a Democrat, becomes the third high-profile Democrat to file pre-candidacy for that party’s nomination for governor. Neither Goodwin nor Greenbrier Resort owner Jim Justice have ever run for statewide office. Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler has been in the legislature for more than a dozen years.
The actual filing period for candidates for the May Primary Election begins next week.