CHARLESTON, W.Va. — On the heels of endorsements for U.S. Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., in his bid to represent the new 2nd Congressional District, fellow Republican Rep. Alex Mooney is pushing support from a top conservative body and a House of Representatives colleague.
The Conservative Political Action Coalition, which organizes the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, announced its support for Mooney on Tuesday, noting the congressman’s 90% rating with the organization.
“He pushes back against the Tyrannical rule of the socialist dems in the White House and in Congress,” American Conservative Union Chair Matt Schlapp tweeted Tuesday. “We are proud to endorse Rep. Mooney for his bid to represent WV’s new 2nd CD.”
The Mooney campaign on Wednesday shared Schlapp’s tweet, as well as an endorsement from the Campaign for Working Families and Rep. Ronny Jackson, R-Texas. Jackson served as chief medical advisor to the president in the Trump administration from February 2019 to December 2019; he was then-President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, but he withdrew his nomination in April 2018 following allegations of misconduct as the physician to the president.
Jackson referenced the former president’s endorsement of Mooney in a video posted by Mooney’s campaign.
“Alex is a real patriot,” Jackson said. “I know because I worked for the number one patriot this country has right now, President Trump.”
President Trump’s White House physician and former veteran, Rep. Ronny Jackson supports my run for WV02. As he says, I am a fierce advocate for veterans and a true supporter of the conservative movement. pic.twitter.com/Qrkg8BpYzd
— Alex Mooney (@MooneyforWV) April 14, 2022
Mooney said, “Congressman Jackson has been a great leader here in Congress for veterans, and I appreciate you taking care of our president for four years as his physician. We certainly wish we still had him in the presidency right now.”
“We’re going to get him back,” Jackson interjected.
“Yeah, get him back soon,” Mooney said.
The McKinley-Mooney race is one of five House of Representatives primaries involving two incumbents. The state Legislature last fall approved a new congressional map that put McKinley and Mooney in the same congressional district. West Virginia lost one of its three districts because of population changes; the new 2nd District includes West Virginia’s northern counties.
The endorsements for Mooney follow the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce PAC and the West Virginia Manufacturers Association PAC announcing their support for McKinley. The West Virginia Business & Industry Council is also supporting McKinley.
The primary election will take place May 10.