West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District elections, 2014

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West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District
General Election Date
November 4, 2014
Primary Date
May 13, 2014
November 4 Election Winner:
Alex Mooney Republican Party
Incumbent prior to election:
Shelley Moore Capito Republican Party
Shelley Moore Capito.jpeg
Race Ratings
Cook Political Report: Lean Republican[1]

Sabato's Crystal Ball: Lean R[2]

West Virginia U.S. House Elections
District 1 • District 2 • District 3
2014 U.S. Senate Elections
Flag of West Virginia.png

The 2nd Congressional District of West Virginia held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014.

SimmeringRace.jpg

Alex Mooney, former chair of Maryland’s Republican Party, defeated Nick Casey, former chair of West Virginia’s Democratic Party, Libertarian Davy Jones and Independent Ed Rabel in the general election for the seat vacated by Shelley Moore Capito, who won election to the U.S. Senate in 2014.

Ballotpedia rated the race for West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District seat as “simmering” because Mooney, who was accused of being a “carpetbagger” for moving from Maryland to West Virginia to run for Congress, had to win over voters who knew little about the outsider.[3] According to Roll Call, “many local and national Republicans are concerned about the GOP’s ability to hold the seat in November.”[3] His opponent, Nick Casey, was a well-connected, native West Virginian who had more cash on hand than Mooney, and more than 80 percent of the money he raised came from in-state donors.[4] It was rated a "Leans Republican" contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.[5]

Candidate Filing Deadline Primary Election General Election
January 25, 2014
May 13, 2014
November 4, 2014

Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election. West Virginia utilizes a semi-closed primary system. State law allows parties to decide who may vote in their primaries.[6][7]

For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

Voter registration: To vote in the primary, voters had to register by April 22, 2014. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 14, 2014.[8]

See also: West Virginia elections, 2014

Incumbent: Heading into the election the incumbent was Shelley Moore Capito (R), who was first elected in 2000. Capito won election to the U.S. Senate in 2014.

West Virginia's 2nd Congressional District is located in the central portion of the state and includes Berkely, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Hampshire, Hardy, Jackson, Jefferson, Kanawha, Lewis, Morgan, Pendleton, Putnam, Randolph, Roane, Upshur, and Wirt counties.[9]

Candidates

General election candidates


March 18, 2014, primary results

Republican Party Republican Primary

Democratic Party Democratic Primary

Grey.png Third Party Candidates


Election results

General election

U.S. House, West Virginia, District 2 General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngAlex Mooney 47.1% 72,042
     Democratic Nick Casey 43.9% 67,210
     Libertarian Davy Jones 5% 7,614
     Independent Ed Rabel 4.1% 6,226
Total Votes 153,092
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State

Democratic primary results

U.S. House, West Virginia District 2 Democratic Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngNick Casey 60.6% 21,646
Meshea Poore 39.4% 14,061
Total Votes 35,707
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State

Republican primary results

In a crowded Republican primary, Alex Mooney defeated Robert Fluharty, Steve Harrison, Charlotte Lane, Jim Moss, Ken Reed and Ron Walters Jr., earning 36 percent of the vote.[20] After winning the nomination Mooney said, "I’m very pleased with the margin (of victory). I’m pleased with the voters. I know, honestly, what I was hearing from the voters of West Virginia as I was campaigning across the district this whole time, was that they wanted a conservative."[21]

U.S. House, West Virginia District 2 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngAlex Mooney 36% 12,678
Robert Fluharty 1.8% 621
Steve Harrison 11% 3,885
Charlotte Lane 18.1% 6,358
Jim Moss 4.8% 1,684
Ken Reed 22.3% 7,848
Ron Walters Jr. 6% 2,125
Total Votes 35,199
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State

Issues

Noteworthy events

Carpetbagger accusations

After Alex Mooney (R) re-located from Maryland to West Virginia in 2013, he faced accusations of being a "carpetbagger."[22] In a December 11, 2013, interview, Mooney defended his move, saying that the panhandle is “the fastest growing part of West Virginia; a lot of folks have moved from Maryland and other places. And frankly, they’ve embraced my candidacy and are excited about it.”[23]

Endorsements

Alex Mooney

Mooney was endorsed by the following organizations:

  • The Madison Project[24]
  • The Republican Liberty Caucus[25]
  • Citizens United[26]
  • Family Research Council[26]
  • Home School Legal Defense Association PAC[26]
  • National Association for Gun Rights[26]
  • National Right to Work[26]
  • Campaign for Working Families[26]
  • CatholicVote.org[26]
  • The U.S. Chamber of Commerce[27]

Nick Casey

Casey was endorsed by the following people and organizations:

  • The West Virginia Bankers’ Association[28]
  • International Brotherhood of Teamsters[28]
  • National Electrical Contractors Association[28]
  • West Virginia Deputy Sheriffs’ Association[28]
  • The Charleston Gazette The endorsement stated that Casey "offers the best hope to give West Virginia respected stature in Congress.[29]
  • Blue Dog Coalition[30]
  • former West Virginia Gov. Gaston Caperton[31]

Ed Rabel

Rabel was endorsed by the following people and organizations:

  • Former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader[32]
  • On July 20, 2014, the Mountain Party of West Virginia endorsed Rabel. Charlotte Pritt, chair of the Mountain Party said, “Our endorsement of Rabel follows careful examination of his commendable positions on the most important issues facing the people of our state, including his publicly announced demand for a moratorium on further hydraulic fracturing and mountaintop removal.”[33]

Charlotte Lane

Lane was endorsed by the following organizations:

  • West Virginia Associated Builders and Contractors[26]
  • West Virginia Coal Association[26]
  • West Virginia Farm Bureau[26]

Media

Alex Mooney

Mooney for Congress, "Obama's Candidate Nick Casey."
Mooney for Congress, "Working for West Virginia."
Mooney for Congress, "Hire."
  • Mooney tied Casey to President Obama in his September 2014 ad, "Obama's Candidate Nick Casey."
  • The ad, "Working for West Virginia," touts Mooney's ability to stand up to Barack Obama and fight the war on coal.
  • Former Gov. Mike Huckabee argued that Mooney is a good, conservative choice for West Virginia in "Hire."

Nick Casey

NickCaseyForWV, "Only You."
NickCaseyForWV, "Misfortune."
  • Sen. Joe Manchin appeared alongside Casey in "Only You" to argue that "Alex Mooney is not one of us."
  • In "Misfortune," former Maryland State Delegate Sue Hecht called Mooney a "partisan" politician.

Polls

General election
Poll Alex Mooney Nick CaseyDavy JonesEd RabelUndecidedMargin of ErrorSample Size
Public Opinion Strategies
August 10-12
 40%28%5%8%19%+/-4.9400
Tarrance Group
May 20-22, 2014
 39%29%3%10%19%+/-4.9400
Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org


Straw poll

Kanawha County’s Republican Executive Committee held a forum and straw poll for the Republican candidates in September 2013.[34] Steve Harrison had a six percent lead over Ron Walters Jr., Charlotte Lane, Alex Mooney and Jim Moss.[34]

Campaign contributions

Alex Mooney

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Mooney's reports.[35]

Nick Casey

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Casey's reports.[43]

Nick Casey (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
July Quarterly[44]July 15, 2013$0$452,452$(35,940)$416,511
October Quarterly[45]October 15, 2013$416,511$151,795$(47,531)$520,775
Year End Report[46]January 31, 2014$520,775$95,440$(68,162)$548,053
April Quarterly[47]April 13, 2014$548,053.58$170,122.24$(66,599.98)$651,575.84
July Quarterly[48]September 13, 2014$627,708.77$312,746.82$(65,864.49)$874,591.10
October Quarterly[49]October 14, 2014$874,591.10$451,390.75$(1,101,916.00)$224,065.85
Running totals
$1,633,946.81$(1,386,013.47)

Charlotte Lane

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Lane's reports.[50]

Charlotte Lane (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
October Quarterly[51]October 15, 2013$0$67,950$(12,922)$55,027
Year End[52]January 31, 2014$55,027$214,671$(14,922)$254,776
April Quarterly[53]April 24, 2014$254,776.11$51,100.00$(84,199.71)$221,676.40
Running totals
$333,721$(112,043.71)

Ken Reed

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Reed's reports.[54]


Ken Reed (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
October Quarterly[55]October 15, 2013$0$25,385$(0)$25,385
Year-End[56]January 31, 2014$25,385$206,825$(6,557)$225,652
April Quarterly[57]April 13, 2014$225,652.24$323,680.72$(37,618.29)$511,714.67
Running totals
$555,890.72$(44,175.29)

Ron Walters

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Walters' reports.[58]

Ron Walters Jr. (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
October Quarterly[59]October 15, 2013$0$106,175$(8,877)$97,297
Year End Report[60]January 31, 2014$97,297$21,845$(55,926)$63,206
April Quarterly[61]April 15, 2014$58,698.61$4,244.00$(60,268.47)$2,674.14
Running totals
$132,264$(125,071.47)

Meshea Poore

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Poore's reports.[62]

Meshea Poore (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
October Quarterly[63]October 15, 2013$0$14,344$(15,715)$−1,370
Year End[64]January 31, 2014$−1,370$25,001$(7,380)$17,720
April Quarterly[65]April 22, 2014$16,349.70$11,090.00$(21,571.24)$5,868.46
Running totals
$50,435$(44,666.24)

Steve Harrison

Candidates for Congress were required to file up to seven main reports with the Federal Election Commission during the 2014 elections season. Below are Harrison's reports.[66]

Steve Harrison (2014) Campaign Finance Reports
ReportDate FiledBeginning BalanceTotal Contributions
for Reporting Period		ExpendituresCash on Hand
April Quarterly[67]April 15, 2014$0.00$8,443.04$(5,123.39)$3,319.65
Running totals
$8,443.04$(5,123.39)

Voter turnout

According to records from West Virginia’s Secretary of State’s office, voter turnout has declined in West Virginia. Turnout for the 2006 midterm primary was 26 percent and 44 percent in the general election. In 2010, turnout declined to 24 percent during the midterm primary and 42 percent in the general election.[68]

“During the 2012 general election, a presidential election year, West Virginia had the lowest voter turnout in the nation with about 47 percent of voters casting ballots. The U.S. Census Bureau said West Virginia was the only state where less than half of eligible voters made it to the polls,” according to West Virginia Metro News.[68]

Robert Rupp, a political science professor at West Virginia Wesleyan, noted that in West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District the Republican candidate “could win this election with (less than) 16 to 20 percent (of the vote).”[68]

District history

Candidate ballot access
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2012

The 2nd Congressional District of West Virginia held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Shelley Moore Capito won re-election in the district.[69]

U.S. House, West Virginia District 2 General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Howard Swint 30.2% 68,340
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngShelley Moore Capito Incumbent 69.8% 157,825
Total Votes 226,165
Source: West Virginia Secretary of State "Official Election Results, 2012 General Election"

2010

On November 2, 2010, Shelley Moore Capito won re-election to the United States House. She defeated Virginia Lynch Graf (D) and Phil Hudok (Constitution) in the general election.[70]

U.S. House, West Virginia District 2 General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngShelley Moore Capito incumbent 68.5% 126,814
     Democratic Virginia Lynch Graf 29.7% 55,001
     Constitution Phil Hudok 1.9% 3,431
Total Votes 185,246

See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Cook Political Report, "2014 HOUSE RACE RATINGS FOR AUGUST 8, 2014," accessed August 21, 2014
  2. ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2014 House Races," accessed August 21, 2014
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Roll Call, "West Virginia Newcomer Battles Carpetbagger Label," June 10, 2014
  4. ↑ Charleston Daily Mail, "Report: Mooney raises more, but Casey has more cash on hand," accessed July 8, 2014
  5. ↑ Roll Call, "2014 Election Race Ratings," accessed June 24, 2014
  6. ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed October 7, 2024
  7. ↑ West Virginia State Legislature, "WV Code § 3-4A-20," accessed October 7, 2024
  8. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State Website, "Voter Registration FAQ," accessed January 3, 2014 (dead link)
  9. ↑ West Virginia Redistricting Map "Map" accessed July 24, 2012
  10. ↑ Fluharty4WV, "Home," accessed October 15, 2014
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 West Virginia Secretary of State-Elections, "Candidate Search," accessed January 27, 2014
  12. ↑ Facebook.com, "Press release," accessed June 10, 2013
  13. ↑ Chron, "W.Va.'s 2nd district GOP primary a crowded race," accessed April 26, 2014
  14. ↑ Associated Press, "West Virginia - Summary Vote Results," May 13, 2014
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 West Virginia Gazette, "Nine Now Running for Congress," accessed July 12, 2013
  16. ↑ Facebook.com, "Steve Harrison 2014 Exploratory Committee," accessed February 10, 2014
  17. ↑ Associated Press, "West Virginia - Summary Vote Results," May 13, 2014
  18. ↑ Vote4DavyJones.org, "Its Time To Restore Liberty!" accessed July 11, 2014
  19. ↑ West Virginia Secretary of State, "Candidate Search," accessed February 3, 2014
  20. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named primary
  21. ↑ WV Metro News, "Alex Mooney wins GOP nomination in 2nd District," accessed May 14, 2014
  22. ↑ Roll Call, "West Virginia House Hopeful Says He’s No Carpetbagger (Video)," accessed January 29, 2014
  23. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named carpetbaggger
  24. ↑ The Madison Project, "Alex Mooney for Congress in West Virginia’s Second Congressional District," accessed February 12, 2014
  25. ↑ PR Underground, "RLC endorses Alex Mooney for U.S. House in West Virginia," accessed March 31, 2014
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 26.3 26.4 26.5 26.6 26.7 26.8 26.9 SFGate.com, "Candidates in West Virginia's 2nd district race," accessed May 6, 2014
  27. ↑ Roll Call, "U.S. Chamber of Commerce Endorses Alex Mooney," July 15, 2014
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 28.3 Nick Casey for West Virginia, "Casey Earns Endorsements for Congressional Run," accessed February 6, 2014
  29. ↑ WVGazette.com, "Casey for Congress," April 22, 2014
  30. ↑ Nick Casey for WV, "Casey Earns Endorsement from the Blue Dog Coalition," June 23, 2014
  31. ↑ WCHSTV.com, "U.S. House Candidates Secure Prominent Endorsements," accessed July 28, 2014 (dead link)
  32. ↑ WCHSTV.com, "U.S. House Candidates Secure Prominent Endorsements," accessed July 28, 2014 (dead link)
  33. ↑ WV Gazette, "Rabel joins race for Congress," July 21, 2014
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 WV Metro News, "Harrison wins Kanawha straw poll in Second District race," accessed February 10, 2014
  35. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Mooney 2014 Summary reports," accessed May 6, 2014
  36. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed March 5, 2014
  37. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "July Quarterly," accessed March 5, 2014
  38. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed March 5, 2014
  39. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Year End," accessed March 5, 2014
  40. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed May 6, 2014
  41. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "July Quarterly," accessed October 22, 2014
  42. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed October 22, 2014
  43. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Casey 2014 Summary reports," accessed May 6, 2014
  44. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "July Quarterly," accessed March 5, 2014
  45. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed March 5, 2014
  46. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Year End Report," accessed March 5, 2014
  47. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed May 6, 2014
  48. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "July Quarterly," accessed October 22, 2014
  49. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed October 22, 2014
  50. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Lane 2014 Summary reports," accessed May 6, 2014
  51. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed March 5, 2014
  52. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Year End Report," accessed March 5, 2014
  53. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed May 6, 2014
  54. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Reed 2014 Summary reports," accessed May 6, 2014
  55. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed March 5, 2014
  56. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Year End Report," accessed March 5, 2014
  57. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed May 6, 2014
  58. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Walters 2014 Summary reports," accessed May 6, 2014
  59. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed March 5, 2014
  60. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Year End Report," accessed March 5, 2014
  61. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed May 6, 2014
  62. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Poore 2014 Summary reports," accessed May 6, 2014
  63. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "October Quarterly," accessed March 5, 2014
  64. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Year End Report," accessed March 5, 2014
  65. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed May 6, 2014
  66. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "Harrison 2014 Summary reports," accessed May 6, 2014
  67. ↑ Federal Election Commission, "April Quarterly," accessed May 1, 2014
  68. ↑ 68.0 68.1 68.2 WV Metro News, "Light voter turnout expected for Tuesday’s primary," accessed May 12, 2014
  69. ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, West Virginia"
  70. ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
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West Virginia's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Shelley Capito (R)
Jim Justice (R)
Representatives
District 1
District 2
Republican Party (4)

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