Associated Press Published

Panel Could Decide to Replace Withdrawn Candidate

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The State Election Commission will hear a request by the Kanawha County Republican Executive Committee to replace a delegate who withdrew her re-election bid.

A meeting to consider replacing Del. Suzette Raines on the November ballot will happen Wednesday. The five-member board would need to vote to give permission.

Raines withdrew from the District 35 race Monday. She said she needed time to heal after her mother’s death in March.

The Kanawha GOP would need to name a replacement by Aug. 18.

The state Democratic Executive Committee filed a complaint against Raines in Kanawha County Circuit Court on July 21. The complaint alleged Raines doesn’t live where she claims.

It also alleged that Raines hasn’t filed several campaign finance reports or a financial disclosure report, and didn’t sign previous disclosures.