UPDATE: 1/26/2012

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - Bill Maloney is back in the hunt for the West Virginia governor's seat.

The Republican who narrowly lost to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in last year's special election announced Thursday in Morgantown that he's going to run again.

Maloney also plans an afternoon appearance outside the Secretary of State's Office in Charleston, where he will formally file the paperwork.

Tomblin is currently finishing the term left by fellow Democrat and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.

This election is for a full, four-year term.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - The Republican who narrowly lost to Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin in last year's special election appears ready to announce his 2012 political plans.

Bill Maloney's campaign announced Wednesday that he and his wife, Sharon, will have a press conference Thursday morning at a Morgantown restaurant.

He's also scheduled an afternoon appearance outside the Secretary of State's Office in Charleston, a signal that he could be filing paperwork to officially challenge Tomblin again this year.

A call to the campaign was not immediately returned Wednesday.

Maloney came within 7,100 votes of winning the governor's seat last year. He announced in November that he was considering another run.

Tomblin is currently finishing the term left by fellow Democrat and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.

This election is for a full, four-year term.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)