By Colleen S. Good, Times West Virginian –  Since U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller announced that he would not be seeking re-election on Jan. 10, 2013, there has been talk and speculation over who would run for his seat.

The presumed front-runners in each party are both women, meaning that, depending on the results of the primary election May 13, West Virginia could see its first female U.S. senator serve in 2015.

This primary will decide who moves forward to appear on the November general election ballot. There are three candidates running in each party.

Natalie Tennant (D)

The presumed frontrunner in the Democratic Party is Natalie Tennant, current West Virginia secretary of state and former West Virginia University Mountaineer. She announced her campaign on Sept. 17, 2013.

Tennant grew up on a farm in Marion County. She is now serving her second term as West Virginia secretary of state in Charleston. She ran in 2008 and 2012.

“I won in 2012 with a very unpopular president on the ballot because West Virginians know I am an independent leader,” Tennant said.

“I’m running to put West Virginia first,” Tennant said.

She said one of the issues that motivated her to run was drug abuse.

“Prescription drug abuse is the worst public health crisis that our state has faced in many years. We have to come together to solve this problem for the sake of our children and our state,” Tennant said.

Tennant said that, if elected, she would work to combat drug abuse by developing better drug-abuse education and treatment programs, promoting safer drugs, and increasing opportunities for opiate disposal, among other suggestions.

Tennant said that, if elected, she would also work to create good-paying jobs in West Virginia, including in the coal and natural gas industries, technology and manufacturing.

“God blessed us with natural resources,” Tennant said. “I will protect today’s coal jobs from EPA regulations, invest in tomorrow’s coal jobs with advanced coal technology, and promote natural gas.”

She said she would also work to promote miner safety through passing the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act and to protect their retirement benefits by changing bankruptcy laws.

Tennant said that to create good-paying jobs, she would also work to improve education in West Virginia.

“I will support education from Head Start to our colleges, universities and technical colleges,” Tennant said.

As secretary of state, Tennant said she cut her budget, returning $3 million. She also said that, as a small business owner, she made it a priority to cut red tape, cutting fees for small businesses and streamlining online paperwork filing.

Her husband and father also served in the military, which Tennant said motivated her to launch the first online voting system for military personnel serving overseas.

Tennant has just over $1 million cash on hand and almost tied Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito with $800,000 for first-quarter fundraising, while Capito raised $817,000.

In the time leading up to the primary, Tennant plans to continue her 55-county tour.

“I’m out on the road talking directly with the people of West Virginia, to address their concerns and put them first,” Tennant said.

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