Former President Trump’s Endorsement Key in West Virginia Republican Primary Battle

In a high-stakes showdown in West Virginia, Rep. Alex Mooney emerged victorious over fellow Republican Rep. David McKinley after the state lost one of its House seats due to reapportionment following the 2020 US Census. Mooney’s win highlighted the significant influence of former President Donald Trump’s endorsement in Republican primaries.

Trump threw his support behind Mooney, a Maryland native first elected to Congress in 2014, over McKinley, an engineer and vocal advocate for the bipartisan $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed by Congress in 2021. Mooney criticized McKinley for his support of the infrastructure bill and a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection, which was ultimately blocked by Republicans in the Senate.

On the other hand, McKinley received endorsements from Gov. Jim Justice and Sen. Joe Manchin, a powerful West Virginia Democrat who played a key role in the infrastructure negotiations. Manchin emphasized McKinley’s opposition to reckless spending and his commitment to West Virginia’s interests.

The race in West Virginia is just one example of member-on-member primaries within the same political party happening across the country. In Illinois, Trump has endorsed Rep. Mary Miller over Rep. Rodney Davis, another congressman who supported the bipartisan January 6 commission.

The outcome of these primaries underscores the ongoing influence of Trump in Republican politics and the importance of his endorsement in shaping the party’s future direction. Mooney’s victory in West Virginia serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics at play within the GOP as candidates navigate competing interests and allegiances in their pursuit of elected office.