CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., raised more money than his colleague and primary opponent Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., during the final quarter of 2021.
Mooney, however, maintains a cash advantage with three months ahead of the primary election.
The campaigns of McKinley and Mooney filed campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission on Monday, in which McKinley reported $598,680 in donations and Mooney recorded $189,970 in contributions.
The state Legislature placed McKinley and Mooney in the same congressional district during last year’s redistricting efforts; West Virginia lost one of its three congressional seats due to population changes. The new 2nd Congressional District is West Virginia’s northern counties, including both of the state’s panhandles.
McKinley, a Wheeling native, has served in the House of Representatives since 2011. Mooney, who resides in Charles Town, joined the House four years later.
The campaign finance reports detail contributions and expenditures from October through December.
According to the McKinley for Congress report, the campaign recorded around 270 individual itemized contributions totaling $345,659. The campaign reported more than 120 PAC contributions from multiple committees — including groups associated with the National Education Association, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Viatris Inc. and Boeing Co. — adding up to $246,500.
Contributions from individuals and political action committees equaled $598,680.
McKinley also made a $500,000 loan to his campaign, bringing contributions over the three-month period to nearly $1.1 million.
The Mooney for Congress 2022 campaign received $189,970 in donations; 154 individual contributions added to $99,864. The Mooney campaign reported $200,187 in total contributions over this period.
The McKinley campaign touted its numbers in a statement to MetroNews.
“Our fundraising success illustrates the growing momentum and enthusiasm behind our campaign,” a campaign official stated Tuesday. “While our opponent began this race with a sizable fundraising lead, since then we have outraised him by more than 3 to 1 and cut significantly into his advantage.”
The Mooney campaign spent $389,480 during the three months compared to the McKinley campaign’s $112,493 in expenditures.
Among the Mooney campaign’s payments included nearly $106,362 to the Wiley Rein LLP law firm and $1,171 to Fox Rothschild LLP. The payments are related to the House of Representatives Ethics Committee’s review of how Mooney used campaign funds from 2017 to 2021. The Office of Congressional Ethics Board recommended a review into Mooney, arguing there is “substantial reason to believe” the congressman used at least $40,115 in campaign funds for personal and non-political purposes, including fast food and travel purchases.
Roll Call on Tuesday reported Mooney opened a legal expense fund in December to pay legal bills related to the investigation. Mooney has spent $136,768 in campaign funds in connection to the investigative effort.
Mooney has stated he is cooperating with the inquiry.
The McKinley campaign described Mooney as “unelectable” because of the investigation.
“Voters are recognizing that Alex Mooney has a long track record of behavior that proves he’s out for himself, not West Virginia,” a campaign official said. “As a result, they are siding with the conservative they can trust to represent our values with integrity.”
The Mooney campaign maintains a $2.4 million cash reserves advantage over McKinley’s $1.6 million cash-on-hand. The McKinley campaign also reported $815,000 in unpaid bills.
“Congressman Mooney is humbled by the support of conservative donors across West Virginia,” Mooney’s campaign manager Teemu Garrity said. “Meanwhile, David McKinley is accepting money from the liberal Democratic teachers union. Once again our campaign holds an advantage in cash on hand and is in a strong position to win the primary.”
McKinley and Mooney have traded barbs since state lawmakers placed the two legislators in the same district last October. McKinley has touted his West Virginia ties, noting Mooney’s history as the Maryland Republican Party chairman and a Maryland state senator. McKinley previously served in the West Virginia Legislature and as the West Virginia Republican Party’s leader.
Former President Donald Trump has backed Mooney; last November’s endorsement followed Trump’s criticism about McKinley supporting infrastructure legislation and a commission for investigating the January 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Mooney and Rep. Carol Miller, R-W.Va., backed a legal challenge to election results in multiple states and rejected certified tallies hours after the insurrection.
McKinley was one of 13 House Republicans who voted for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. West Virginia will receive billions of dollars for projects related to road work, utility improvements and expansion of broadband internet. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., had instrumental roles in moving the measure through the Senate.
“America’s infrastructure has been in dire need of modernization and this bipartisan infrastructure bill is what community leaders from one panhandle to the other have expressed that West Virginia needs to restore our aging infrastructure,” McKinley said last November following the House’s passage of the measure.
McKinley backed legislation creating a committee to investigate the U.S. Capitol attack, but he opposes the select committee currently investigating the events.
Susan Buchser-Lochoki, Rhonda Hercules and Mike Seckman filed paperwork with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office to run in the 1st District Republican primary.
The Miller campaign — Carol for Congress — reported $168,578 in contributions and $222,166 in cash reserves. The campaign has $442,992 in outstanding debt and other obligations.