Emphasis on “possibly.” Gainer is a dynastic politician who inherited the office of Auditor from his father (which they’ve held continuously for almost 4 decades) and has coasted on incumbency (in fact, he’s only faced 2 GOP opponents since he took the office in 1992, in 2004 and 2012, the latter he won by a decent, but declining margin of 57-43%).
His recruitment is somewhat bizarre. Perhaps he did it as a favor to state Dems, as he doesn’t have to give up his current job to run, but he isn’t doing himself a favor. Gainer will have to defend that he endorsed Zero in the 2008 Dem primary, which McKinley should highlight to the hilt. I expect Gainer will lose, and as a result, will also likely jeopardize his own ability to win statewide in 2016.
The one federal WV officeholder most endangered now is Nick Rahall. He won by an unimpressive 8% in 2012 in a district about as hostile to Zero as imaginable.
Rahall has a top opponent in State Sen. Evan Jenkins who switched parties and announced for Congress a few months ago. Smart boy, switching before the democrats fall in the State. Rahall called him a traitor and says he will continue to dance with those that brung him.