Booth Goodwin has filed a pre-candidacy registration for governor with the secretary of state's office.
Goodwin, who stepped down as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia effective Dec. 31 and has long been rumored as a gubernatorial hopeful, formed the Goodwin for West Virginia committee on Jan. 1, according to the registration, which was filed with the secretary of state's office Monday morning.
Under state election law, potential candidates must file as pre-candidates before they can begin raising campaign contributions.
Committee treasurer is Chris Morris, a vice president and lobbyist for Citynet, and a former state tax commissioner and deputy secretary of Revenue. In 2012, Morris ran as a Democrat for House of Delegates, finishing 7th in the four-member 35th District.
The filing period for candidates in 2016 elections opens Monday and continues through Jan. 30.
Joining the race puts Goodwin into an already contested Democratic primary in May. Billionaire coal businessman and owner of The Greenbrier resort Jim Justice is already in the race, as is state Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler.
West Virginia Republicans largely have unified around state Senate President Bill Cole.
Under federal law, Goodwin had been unable to conduct any campaign activity while serving as prosecutor, such as opening a fundraising account.