Staff Reports
In West Virginia, the Republicans are feeling pretty confident about their chances to snag that Senate majority, and they’ve got their sights set on a big win in the state’s primary. The focus now? The GOP showdown between Rep. Alex Mooney and Gov. Jim Justice. Mooney, a true conservative, is looking to close the gap with Justice, who has been favored by establishment Republicans and even snagged an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Joe Manchin’s retirement puts spotlight on West Virginia’s GOP primary fight for U.S. Senatehttps://t.co/mca9jIzKxm pic.twitter.com/F1HiTeI6ps
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 26, 2023
Despite being the underdog in the race, Mooney is no stranger to pulling off upsets. In fact, he already ousted a fellow GOP Rep. in a previous primary, even with Trump’s endorsement going the other way. Mooney is all about those “West Virginia values” and has the backing of over 30 Republican House Delegates, which he says speaks volumes about Justice’s “liberal” tendencies. Mooney is not one to mince words when it comes to his feelings about Gov. Justice and other Republican leaders, calling them “leftist and fake Republicans.”
The National Republican Senatorial Committee seems pretty content with Justice’s lead, so they’re not planning on getting their hands dirty in the primary. They’re saving their resources for more competitive races, which has Mooney crying foul, saying it would be a waste of donor dollars. It’s clear there’s some tension brewing within the party, with Mooney getting support from conservative heavy-hitters like the Club for Growth and Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee. The Club for Growth is even throwing $10 million into Mooney’s corner, and they’re not holding back on the attack ads against Justice.
And the mud-slinging doesn’t stop there. Mooney’s camp is hitting Justice for his past support of Democratic candidates and painting him as an untrustworthy D.C. insider. On the flip side, a pro-Justice ad takes a swing at Mooney’s Maryland roots and his ties to the Club for Growth, which they say opposed President Trump.
