CHARLESTON – In a Republican primary that drew national attention, Alex Mooney handily defeated David McKinley in the matchup between two incumbents.
With 96 percent of the vote in at 10:30 p.m., Mooney led McKinley by 15,000 votes with a 54 percent to 36 percent advantage. Three other candidates together accounted for 11 percent of the vote in the new 2nd Congressional District that was created after West Virginia lost one of its three House members because of declining population.
The district basically is the northern half of the state. McKinley, who is from Wheeling, had been a member of the House since 2011. Mooney, who lives in the Eastern Panhandle, took office in 2015.
David McKinley
Mooney had the support of former President Donald Trump, who’s clout still carries weight in West Virginia. This race garnered national media attention because it was seen as a litmus test for Trump-backed candidates.
“Obviously the endorsement of President Trump was crucial,” Mooney said on West Virginia MetroNews’ election coverage. “Everywhere I went, people said, ‘Trump endorses you, so I’m with you.’
“He’s wildly popular in this state.”
McKinley, who was labeled “pro-infrastructure package,” had the support of Gov. Jim Justice, a former Democrat, and U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).
Recent polls showed Mooney with a 15 percent lead over McKinley among likely voters.
Mooney’s margins of victory in his old district were far greater than McKinley’s margins in the counties he did win. An early results map showed McKinley won his home Ohio County and neighboring Marshall County as well as Pleasants County, all three of which border Ohio. Doddridge County was too close to call at 10 p.m. The other 23 counties across the district toward the D.C. metro area went to Mooney.
Other Republicans in the 2nd District race were Susan Buchser-Lochocki of Morgantown, Rhonda Hercules of Wheeling and Mike Seckman of West Union. Barry Wendell looked to win the Democratic primary against Angela J. Dwyer.
In the new 1st Congressional District, incumbent Republican Carol Miller cruised to an easy victory against four challengers. None of the other four – Scott Fuller, Zane Lawhorn, James Edwin Houser and Kent Stevens – picked up more than 10 percent of the vote.
Miller will face off against Lacy Watson in the general election after he ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.