Associated Press Published

West Virginia Democrats Want GOP Candidates Off Ballot

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  West Virginia Democrats say Republican state Del. Suzette Raines doesn’t live where she claims and shouldn’t be on the November ballot.

They also want GOP House of Delegates hopeful Melissa Lewis off the ballot.

The state Democratic Executive Committee filed complaints Monday in Kanawha and Preston circuit courts.

Democrats say Raines doesn’t live at her listed St. Albans address, hasn’t filed campaign finance reports and a financial disclosure, and didn’t sign previous disclosures.

They say Lewis switched from Democrat to Republican five days before filing. State law allows only switches more than 60 days before filing.

Democrats claim she lived outside Preston-based District 52 within a year of November’s election, making her ineligible.

Raines is seeking a second term in Kanawha-based District 35.

Neither candidate has returned calls for comment.