Mooney defeats McKinley in WV-2 Republican primary


U.S. Rep. Alexander Mooney defeated U.S. Rep. David McKinley, Susan Buchser-Lochocki, Rhonda Hercules, and Mike Seckman in the Republican primary for West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District on May 10, 2022. As a result of redistricting, Reps. McKinley (District 1) and Mooney (District 2) ran for re-election in the same district. 

Mooney received 54% of the vote based on unofficial returns while McKinley received 36% of the vote. The other three candidates combined to receive 10% of the vote.

McKinley was elected to represent District 1 in 2010. U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D), Gov. Jim Justice (R), former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (R), and the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce endorsed McKinley. McKinley told MetroNews in an Oct. 2021 interview that his focus was proving to voters in the new district that he can deliver tangible results. McKinley’s key issues were the U.S.-Mexico border, economic revitalization including investing in coal and natural gas, and U.S. relations with China.

Mooney was elected to represent District 2 in 2014. Former President Donald Trump (R), Club for Growth, FreedomWorks, and the House Freedom Fund (a PAC associated with the House Freedom Caucus) endorsed Mooney. In an Oct. 2021 interview with MetroNews, Mooney said his conservative record should appeal to voters in the district. Mooney’s key issues were the 2nd Amendment, the state’s opioid epidemic, and reducing regulation of the state’s energy industry.

Mooney is expected to also win in the general election. At the time of the primary election, three independent race forecasters considered the general as Solid or Safe Republican. According to Roll Call, Donald Trump (R) would have won the district by 37 percentage points in 2020.