On July 21, 2010, Hechler filed to run in the special election to succeed the late Senator Robert Byrd, running in the primary against Gov. Joe Manchin. Hechler indicated that his primary goal in entering the race was to draw attention to what he viewed as the devastating impact of mountaintop removal mining in West Virginia. Hechler lost to Manchin, with less than 20% of the vote. He then endorsed Jesse Johnson of the Mountain Party for the Senate seat in the general election.