Tennant filed to run for re-election as secretary of state of West Virginia in 2016. She defeated challenger state Rep. Patsy Trecost II (D) in the May 10 Democratic primary election. She competed with attorney Mac Warner (R), who won his party's primary election, and Libertarian John Buckley in the November 8 general election.

General election

Mac Warner defeated incumbent Natalie Tennant and John Buckley in the West Virginia secretary of state election.

Primary election

Incumbent Natalie Tennant defeated Patsy Trecost II in the Democratic primary for secretary of state.

Tennant ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. Senate, representing West Virginia. Tennant won the Democratic nomination in the primary on May 13, 2014. She defeated Dennis Melton and David Wamsley. Natalie Tennant lost the general election on November 4, 2014.

According to Politico and the New York Times, Tennant sought to distance herself from President Obama. Tennant was an Obama delegate at the 2012 Democratic National Convention.

Election results

General election

Democratic primary results

Endorsements

Tennant was endorsed by the following:

• U.S. Women's Chamber of Commerce
• First Lady Michelle Obama.
• Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren
• North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp.
• Senator Jay Rockefeller
• Senator Joe Manchin
• Governor Earl Ray Tomblin
• Former head of the West Virginia National Guard, Major General Allen Tackett (ret.)
• AFL-CIO
• The West Virginia Education Association
• The West Virginia chapter of American Federation of Teachers

Media

• In a 2013 ad, Tennant criticized her opponent, Shelley Moore Capito, for voting against a mine safety act, a policy supported by other West Virginia delegates. Capito expressed displeasure with Tennant's comments, saying, "I was obviously a little surprised at the vindictive nature she came right out of the box against me. I’ve got a lot going on here and I’ve been doing this a long time. So I’m going to stick with my strategy. I always take the high road."

Polls

Tennant defended her seat in the 2012 election. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and defeated Republican challenger Brian Savilla, a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, in the general election on November 6, 2012.

West Virginia was not scheduled to hold a gubernatorial election until 2012; however, elected Democrat Joe Manchin gave up the seat to join the U.S. Senate in the 2010 midterms. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin, also a Democrat, took over the office as the Lieutenant Governor of West Virginia is a title accorded to the legislator elected as Senate President, and is next in succession to the office of governor.

Disputed election date

In early 2011, a Supreme Court battle ensued about when to elect the next Governor of West Virginia.

Citizen Action Group and local attorney Thorton Cooper said the state Constitution and state code disagree, and argued that a special election for governor should be held. Attorneys for acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and House Speaker Richard Thompson disagreed on whether an election should be called. Secretary of State Tennant‘s legal counsel took a neutral position.

Kathryn Bayless, counsel for CAG, said only the court could require the Legislature and Tomblin to act and that an election was needed as soon as possible. Bayless argued that article 7 section 16 of the Constitution is clear, and that there “shall” be a “new” election for governor in event of an absence.

“The people of West Virginia want a new election, and that is what the Constitution provides for,” Bayless said.

“What would you have us do in respect to President Tomblin and the Speaker,” asked Justice Brent Benjamin. “What would you have us mandate those two individuals do? You have us mandate those two individuals to legislate?”

“No sir, I would mandate a new election be conducted as soon as practical, and I believe the court has the authority to do that,” Bayless said.

Issues

Environment

Speaking about her 2011 gubernatorial platform, Tennant endorsed using severance taxes from the Marcellus Shale for technology and education, and she also expressed a willingness to enact more regulations and environmental guidelines surrounding the shale.

On November 4, 2008, Natalie Tennant won election to the office of West Virginia Secretary of State. She defeated Charles Theophilus Minimah (R) in the general election.

In 2004, Tennant ran unsuccessfully for West Virginia Secretary of State, losing the Democratic primary to Ken Hechler by 1,108 votes.

Secretary of State Project

The Center for Public Integrity reported in September 2008 that Tennant received both the endorsement and financial assistance (nearly $1,000) from the Secretary of State Project, a below-the-radar 527 political organization whose purpose is "wrestling control of the country from the Republican Party" through the process of "removing their political operatives from deciding who can vote and whose votes will count," namely the office of Secretary of State in many cases.

Change-of-address materials

In 2013, the Secretary of State’s office was late in sending out change-of-address materials to election officials, which are sent out every two years to keep election rolls accurate. According to the Harrison County Clerk's office, the materials should have arrived at the end of 2013 to give officials time to send them out before the primary election in May 2014, but some county clerks did not receive the materials until April 2014 or later.

Campaign finance reports

In 2014, a number of West Virginian political candidates were unable to file their campaign finance reports on the Secretary of State’s website due to issues with the online campaign finance reporting system. Tennant said, "The company that was hired to update the campaign finance reporting system has not met the standards of my office, has not met the standards of the contract or what West Virginians deserve...They are being held accountable."