PARKERSBURG — U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney was in Parkersburg on Friday knocking on doors and talking to voters on why he thinks he is the better choice to represent the state in the US Senate.
With only a few days left until the May 14 primary election, the Republican congressman has been barnstorming across the state meeting with voters and discussing why he feels voters should support his candidacy over Gov. Jim Justice, who is also running for the Senate seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
Mooney has served in Congress for 10 years, representing the Second Congressional District when the state had three districts and representing the newly aligned Second Congressional District after the state was reduced to two districts after the last census.
During an interview at the Mary B’s Restaurant in south Parkersburg, Mooney touted his conservative credentials and his support for former President Donald Trump, even though Trump endorsed Justice in this race. Trump had supported Mooney in his congressional races.
“I have a 10-year proven conservative voting record as a congressman representing West Virginia,” Mooney said. “His eight-year record as governor has been liberal.”
Mooney said he voted against the spending bills, covering trillions of dollars, favored by President Joe Biden because they haven’t secured the southern border and he has been criticized by Justice for doing so.
Not one Republican Senator voted for the $9 trillion American Rescue Plan, Mooney said.
“That means Jim Justice would be the most liberal Republican in the entire U.S. Senate,” Mooney said. “This is West Virginia. We are a conservative state.
“West Virginia deserves a conservative U.S. senator who protects their values. That is me. I’m the only conservative running in this race.”
Mooney voted to repeal Obamacare which is something he said Justice is against. He voted for the Trump supported Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017 while he said Justice attempted the biggest tax increase in the history of West Virginia.
He also touted his Pro-Life stance including a 100% rating from National Right to Life as well as his “A” rating from the NRA on Second Amendment gun rights.
“Just look at the issues, (Justice) is a liberal man,” Mooney said. “He was elected as a Democrat and is basically still a Democrat. He changed parties for pragmatic reasons.
“I am a natural conservative Republican.”
Mooney said this is a race between a “conservative Republican” and a “liberal Republican.”
“I am pleased to give West Virginians that choice,” Mooney said. “I believe they will choose the actual conservative.”
Although Trump is endorsing Justice, Mooney said the former President has been complementary of his work in Congress and Mooney has supported Trump throughout his political career. He also said he believes his stances on many issues mirror those of Trump.
Mooney said he has fought against the “wokeism” Trump opposes. That would be a priority for him in the Senate to stop things like making all coal carbon neutral within 10 years which he thinks would ruin West Virginia’s economy as well as sex change operations in the military which he said such “social experimentation” has no place in the armed services.
Mooney has been endorsed by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky, all of which are considered very conservative.
“The conservatives are with me,” Mooney said.
His priority in the Senate would be to control spending as he said both parties have not done a good job controlling debt and deficits which he said is around $35 trillion.
“Right now, there is no end in sight for the out of control spending,” Mooney said. “It is really scary.”