John Raese, a prominent West Virginia businessman and frequent political candidate, was born April 10, 1950. He is the son of Jane Greer Raese and Richard "Dyke" Raese, the former West Virginia University basketball coach. He attended WVU, where he received his bachelor's degree in 1973.

In 1984, Raese ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate against Jay Rockefeller. He was chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party until he stepped down to run for governor in 1988. He lost in the Republican primary to Governor Arch Moore. In 1986, he ran again for the U.S. Senate, losing to the incumbent, Robert C. Byrd. In 2010, he was the GOP challenger in the race to fill Byrd's seat but lost to Governor Joe Manchin. In 2012, he again challenged Manchin for the Senate seat but was defeated in the general election.

Raese is president of Greer Industries, which includes Greer Limestone, Greer Steel and Preston County Coal and Coke. He is chairman of the board of West Virginia Radio Corporation and founder of MetroNews Radio Network. Raese is also vice-president of the Morgantown Dominion-Post.

He and his wife, Liz, have two daughters, Jane and Agnes.