The 2022 midterms may be the focus of the American political world at the moment, but it would be foolish to think that there wasn’t a rather sizable portion of onlookers who are extrapolating the results thus far and applying them to the likely situations of the 2024 presidential election as well.
This is particularly true when we examine what influence that Donald Trump may find himself with come 2024, especially as a number of congressional candidates of his choosing continue to meander through the primary process.
This week, one race in West Virginia seemed to suggest that Trump has nothing to worry about.
Rep. Alex Mooney is projected by the Associated Press as the winner in the GOP congressional primary in West Virginia’s 2nd District in a battle with fellow Republican Rep. David McKinley.
And while former President Donald Trump wasn’t on the ballot, his prestige within the GOP was very much on the line in a bitter contest between two incumbent lawmakers, as Trump had endorsed Mooney.
“I Love West Virginia. Congratulations to Alex Mooney on his BIG WIN!!!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social.
This appears to be part of a growing pattern.
It was the second major victory for a Trump-backed candidate in a heavily contested GOP primary, following JD Vance’s win last Tuesday in a crowded, combustible, and very expensive Republican primary in the race for Ohio’s open Senate seat.
At his victory celebration, Mooney told supporters “the voters of West Virginia spoke loud and clear tonight.”
And the congressman thanked Trump for “his endorsement and support of my campaign – when Donald Trump puts his mind to something, you better watch out.”
Mooney is certainly spot-on with that last bit, and the Democratic Party had better prepare themselves for this reality.
