Republican congresswoman Capito to run for Rockefeller's Senate seat in 2014

FILE: Sept. 20, 2011: Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., at the American Banker Regulatory Symposium in Washington. (REUTERS)

Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito announced Monday that she will run in 2014 for a U.S. Senate seat in West Virginia.

Capito was recently re-elected to a seventh House term and will be running for the Senate seat held by Democrat Jay Rockefeller since 1984.

Capito is a pro-choice Republican, and as a woman her candidacy is attracting attention as a potential test of the party’s ability to expand its appeal to more voters, particularly women.

The Charleston Daily Mail quotes Capito campaign adviser Kent Gates as saying the candidate wants to "stand up for the coal industry and energy jobs" in the state.

He also told the newspaper that Capito thought it was "important that people know what her intentions are so they can plan accordingly."

Gates noted the announcement ends the political speculation that has been swirling about the congresswoman for more than two years.

Rockefeller hasn't said whether he will run again in 2014. Capito won re-election earlier this month in the state’s 2nd Congressional District.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.