Controversial GOP state senator enters race for Wolf’s House seat

Virginia state Sen. Dick Black (R) is entering the race for retiring Rep. Frank Wolf’s (R-Va.) seat.

Black’s entrance sets up a potentially contentious battle between the socially conservative Black and Virginia Del. Barbara Comstock (R), the choice of establishment Republicans. 

“I’m running,” Black tells NBC’s local affiliate. “I’m going to be running, so we just have to get the papers filed and that type of thing.”

Some Republicans are nervous about having Black as the nominee. He has stirred controversy on social issues in the past and last year compared abortion clinics to Auschwitz.

He also once handed out plastic fetuses ahead of a vote in the statehouse on abortion legislation.

{mosads}Wolf’s retirement has opened up a slightly Republican-leaning northern Virginia district that Democrats hope to make competitive. The GOP field is likely to grow as a number of other candidates are eyeing the race. A trio of Democrats has said they’ll run for Wolf’s seat.

Local Virginia Republicans have yet to decide whether they’ll choose a candidate in a nominating convention or open the race up to a primary.