John Raese

Raese ran for the U.S. Senate against two-term Governor Jay Rockefeller, during a difficult economic downturn. Rockefeller outspent Raese tenfold, $12 million to $1.2 million. Raese ran as a "Reagan Republican", a traditional conservative on both economic and social policies, and he challenged Rockefeller's record on sensitive issues such as coal mine closures in the state. Some national news organizations were preparing for a possible upset by the little-known Raese as the general election day approached. Raese narrowly lost the U.S. Senate race to Rockefeller in the general election 52%–48%. Raese challenged the outcome of the race, but without effect.

In 1988, Raese ran against three-term Republican Governor Arch A. Moore in the GOP gubernatorial primary, losing 53%–47%. Moore later lost the general election.

In 2006 Raese ran against Robert Byrd, the longest-serving member of the U.S. Senate and former Senate Majority Leader and Senate Appropriations Chair.

Raese won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate with 58 percent of the vote in a field of six candidates. In radio advertisements aired during the primary race, Raese's campaign replayed a tape of an endorsement from Ronald Reagan made during the 1984 Senate race.

In the general election, Republicans such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky stumped for Raese. Raese stressed the value of the private sector in creating jobs, and the importance of honoring traditional values. He also supported the pro-life movement, the right to bear arms, and tax cuts. During the election, the Byrd campaign criticized Raese for making a comment about Byrd's deceased wife, Erma Ora Byrd.[7] Byrd was reelected by a margin of 64.4% to 33.7%.

In 2007, Raese's wife, Elizabeth, launched a new statewide women's group, "Conservative Women of West Virginia." The group was active for the GOP national and state ticket in the 2008 election. More recently, the group has been supportive of some of the initiatives of the WV Republican Party, including helping with the May 2009 speaking engagement of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.

In 2008, Raese donated money to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, to the unsuccessful U.S. Senate campaign of Jay Wolfe and to the "Raese for Senate" committee. In the 2008 Republican presidential primaries, he supported former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, donating $1,000 to his campaign in 2007.[8]

Following the death of Senator Robert C. Byrd in 2010, plans were made to hold a special election to fill the unexpired term of his US Senate seat. Republican Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, daughter of former Governor Arch A. Moore, was initially considered to be a potential candidate for the seat. Raese announced that he was considering a third Senate bid, stating that he might run to her right in a potential primary between the two. Ultimately, Capito declined to run for the seat. Raese subsequently won the Republican nomination, but was defeated by his Democratic opponent, Joe Manchin, in the general election.[9][10][11]

Raese was unopposed in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate garnering 61,289 votes. He ran against Manchin once again, who received 80% of the Democratic primary ballots, a total for him of 119,725 votes.[12] In April 2012, Raese equated smoking bans with Adolf Hitler's yellow badge. He said "in Monongalia County now, I have to put a huge sticker on my buildings to say this is a smoke-free environment. This is brought to you by the government of Monongalia County. Okay? Remember Hitler used to put Star of David on everybody’s lapel, remember that? Same thing." That same day, he referred to President Franklin D. Roosevelt as "Fidel Roosevelt."[13] Raese didn't apologize for his statements on Hitler saying "I am not going to be intimidated by a bunch of bullshit. I'm not apologizing to anybody or any organization. It's my perfect right to make a speech about meaningful subject matters in this country."[14] He has called guitarist Ted Nugent a "patriot" for having criticized President Barack Obama.[15] Raese was defeated by his Democratic opponent, Joe Manchin, in the general election.[16]