West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant announced her campaign for Senate on Tuesday morning, filling in one of the final holes on Democrats’ recruitment map for the 2014 cycle.

I am thrilled to announce that I’m running to represent West Virginia in the U.S. Senate. RT & Favorite to spread the word.

— Natalie Tennant (@NatalieforWV) September 17, 2013

Her likely Republican rival, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, is a popular figure across the aisle in Washington. Operatives at the National Republican Senatorial Committee responded to the announcement by seeking to tie Tennant to President Barack Obama, who remains deeply unpopular in the Mountain State.

“Republicans are well-positioned to pick up this seat and the Senate majority in 2014, which means a repeal of ObamaCare and the end of President Obama’s war on coal and American energy,” said NRSC Executive Director Rob Collins in a statement.

This is a race to replace Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller, who is retiring. The race is rated Lean Republican by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call

Kyle Trygstad contributed to this report.