GOP Senators Backing Fringe Candidate Over McConnell’s Pick in West Virginia Senate Race

In a surprising turn of events, a group of Republican senators are causing a stir by throwing their support behind a fringe candidate in the West Virginia Senate race, despite the endorsement of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The seat, currently held by Sen. Joe Manchin, is expected to be won by popular Gov. Jim Justice in both the GOP primary and the general election.

According to reports, Sen. Ted Cruz recently traveled to West Virginia to support Rep. Alex Mooney, who is challenging Justice in the primary. Cruz, along with Senators Mike Lee and Rand Paul, believe that Justice does not meet the conservative purity test, despite receiving support from former President Donald Trump.

While Mooney is trailing Justice in the polls, his candidacy is seen as a way to gauge the anti-establishment sentiment within the GOP base. Cruz’s endorsement of Mooney is seen as a nod to the insurgent wing of the party, which seeks to shake up the status quo in Washington.

Pro-Trump conservatives are pushing for a more extremist faction of GOP lawmakers in the Senate, viewing Justice as a “complete waste of a seat.” However, some believe that Justice could be a more pragmatic and team player in the Senate, potentially forming a governing wing of center-right Republicans in the future.

The West Virginia Senate race is shaping up to be a battleground between establishment Republicans and the insurgent wing of the party, with implications for the future direction of the GOP. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.