Mooney Polling Ahead of McKinley in West Virginia House Primary

May 8, 2022 by Brock Blasdell
Mooney Polling Ahead of McKinley in West Virginia House Primary
Rep. Alex Mooney

The latest polling data from West Virginia Metro News shows Republican Rep. Alex Mooney holding a 15-point lead over Rep. David McKinley as they head into the final days before West Virginia’s May 10 Republican primary.

West Virginia lost a congressional house seat following the 2020 census and was required to redraw the districts of sitting representatives due to a population decline, forcing a bitter election race between Mooney and McKinley.

Mooney, who was first elected to the state’s 2nd Congressional District in 2014, is seeking his fifth term in office. McKinley, who was first elected to West Virginia’s 1st Congressional District in 2010, is seeking his seventh. 

With Mooney receiving former President Donald Trump’s endorsement in 2021, the early polling results from this incumbent versus incumbent race could indicate how strong the former president’s hold is among conservative voters heading into the 2022 elections. 

While the two men share the same political party, they differ in policies and beliefs.

 Mooney voted against the Democrat-led Build Back Better infrastructure bill which would have provided $6 billion in aid to West Virginia for state projects while McKinley voted initially to approve the bill along with 12 other Republicans. The decision caused a firestorm of criticism against the Republicans who voted yes, particularly from Trump. 

“Rep. Alex Mooney has done an outstanding job as Congressman in West Virginia,” Trump said in his November 2021 endorsement. “His opponent is a RINO who supported the ‘Unfrastructure Bill’ and the Sham Jan. 6 Unselect Committee.”

Both Mooney and McKinley ultimately opposed the Biden administration’s infrastructure bill on its final vote, and while Mooney denounces McKinley as a man who voted yes, McKinley has had some powerful political allies come to defend his views on the measure. 

Most notably, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., starred in a political advertisement in defense of the underdog candidate.

“For Alex Mooney and his out of state supporters to suggest David McKinley supported Build Back Better is an outright lie,” Manchin said in the advertisement. “David McKinley has always opposed reckless spending, because it doesn’t make sense for West Virginia. Alex Mooney has proven he’s all about Alex Mooney. But West Virginians know David McKinley is all about us.” 

Mooney has not escaped criticism and most recently he was accused by McKinley of wrongfully using footage from the House floor for his campaign ads. 

“The ad is yet another example of Alex Mooney’s blatant disregard for House rules,” Kevin Stephens, campaign manager for McKinley, said in a statement to The Intelligencer published January 25. “His pattern of unethical behavior is the mark of an out-of-touch career politician and a reflection of the Washington swamp, not the values of West Virginians.”

Mooney also came under investigation by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ethics in 2021 for possible misuse of campaign funds. So far, the investigation has found “substantial reason” to believe Mooney used campaign funds for personal family vacations and dining while traveling, and has since released a commitment to investigate the case further. 

“Look at the Office of Congressional Ethics, the reports are full of misrepresentations and unsupported allegations. I’m not going to get into every detail,” Mooney said in a Talkline radio debate with McKinley on May 5. 

“But I am working with the ethics committee, the standing ethics committee. I’m cooperating with them to answer their questions about all these things.”

With Republicans polling ahead of Democrats just months before the midterms, the GOP is expected to take at least one chamber of congress. If elected to return to the House, both McKinley and Mooney said they would vote for Kevin McCarthy to be House Speaker. 

Registered voters in West Virginia will be able to cast their ballot in the primary on May 10.

Brock can be reached at [email protected]

A+
a-
  • Alex Mooney
  • David McKinley
  • West Virginia
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    In The States

    Despite a Slew of Broken Car Mirrors, Massachusetts Residents Take Woodpecker Invasion in Stride

    ROCKPORT, Mass. (AP) — Rockport residents have a history of fighting off invaders, but not this time. During the War... Read More

    ROCKPORT, Mass. (AP) — Rockport residents have a history of fighting off invaders, but not this time. During the War of 1812, townsfolk in the tiny fishing village hurled rocks at British soldiers using their stockings as slings. Now, they’re slinging trash bags and towels over... Read More

    Rep. Gerry Connolly Steps Down as Top Oversight Democrat and Won't Seek Reelection as Cancer Returns

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia announced on Monday he is stepping down as the top Democrat on the powerful... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Gerry Connolly of Virginia announced on Monday he is stepping down as the top Democrat on the powerful House Oversight Committee and will not be seeking reelection next year due to his cancer returning, ending his long career in public life. “The sun is... Read More

    Commanders and Washington Agree to a Deal to Build at RFK Stadium Site

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington’s NFL franchise is set to return to the nation’s capital as part of an agreement between the... Read More

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington’s NFL franchise is set to return to the nation’s capital as part of an agreement between the organization and the District of Columbia government to build on the site of the old RFK Stadium. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday the District of Columbia and... Read More

    Republicans in Toughest Swing Districts Become Hard to Find for People Angry About Trump

    MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Many days over the past two weeks, no one answered the phone at any of U.S.... Read More

    MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (AP) — Many days over the past two weeks, no one answered the phone at any of U.S. Rep. Scott Perry’s four offices. Perry's team did not share details about the Republican congressman's public appearances until they were over. Even supporters who live in... Read More

    JB Pritzker Calls Out 'Do-Nothing' Democrats for Failing to Push Back Against Trump

    MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sharply criticized fellow Democrats on Sunday for not doing enough to oppose President Donald Trump,... Read More

    MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker sharply criticized fellow Democrats on Sunday for not doing enough to oppose President Donald Trump, drawing a clear divide between himself and other high-profile Democrats seen as future presidential contenders. Pritzker delivered the keynote address at the New Hampshire Democratic Party’s... Read More

    Ex-US Rep. George Santos Faces Sentencing for Fraud After Duping Donors and Voters

    CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos, who lied about his life story and defrauded donors, faces... Read More

    CENTRAL ISLIP, N.Y. (AP) — Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos, who lied about his life story and defrauded donors, faces sentencing in federal court on Friday. The New York Republican, who served in Congress for barely a year before being ousted in 2023 by his House... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top