CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin has endorsed Democrat Ben Salango for governor of West Virginia, the candidate said Tuesday.
“Ben is the one candidate who can win in November and meet head-on the great challenges we face in our state,” Manchin, a Democrat, said in a news release.
Salango, an attorney and Kanawha County commissioner, has netted endorsements from the state’s AFL-CIO chapter, former West Virginia governor Gaston Caperton and the Professional Firefighters of West Virginia.
He is set to face off for the Democratic nomination later this year against a slate of candidates that includes state Sen. Ron Stollings, progressive Stephen Smith and others.
Republican Gov. Jim Justice is seeking reelection on the GOP side. He is facing primary opposition from businessman and former state commerce secretary Woody Thrasher, former state lawmaker Mike Folk and others.
