The former Democratic state senator announced Friday he's decided not to seek his party's nomination for West Virginia's first district congressional seat.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A West Virginia Democrat who narrowly lost a congressional race last year has decided against seeking a rematch.
Mike Oliverio upset multi-term incumbent Rep. Alan Mollohan in their party's 2010 primary. Oliverio then came within 1 percentage point of winning the state's 1st District seat that November.
But Oliverio said Friday that he's decided against a 2012 run. He had filed pre-candidacy papers in September. The 48-year-old former state legislator said in a statement that he'll instead be an active citizen.
GOP Rep. David McKinley won last year's election. The freshman enters 2012 with an $848,000 campaign balance.
Oliverio's campaign fund recently raised nearly $11,000 but still had $27,000 in debts.
National Republicans welcomed Friday's announcement. McKinley's remaining potential challengers include Democrat Susan Thorn and independent Raymond Davis.
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