Rep. Alex X. Mooney, R-W.Va., greets a supporter at the Black Dog Coffee Company on Charles Town Road in Shenandoah Junction on Tuesday night.
MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — With about 438 of 542 precincts reporting, freshman incumbent Republican Alex X. Mooney of Charles Town was leading challenger Marc Savitt of Kearneysville by 23,050 votes late Tuesday evening in the GOP primary election for West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional district.
“I feel great,” Mooney said Tuesday. “You known me. I’m an open book. I said I would fight for my principles, and the voters have spoken. They want to continue to fight, to fight back against Obama, and I will continue to do that.”
Mooney’s vote total was 37,203 to Savitt’s 14,153.
Mooney was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014, replacing six-term Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., who was elected to the U.S. Senate. She filled the vacancy left by retiring U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va.
Before moving to West Virginia, Mooney had served in the Maryland General Assembly and was chairman of the Maryland Republican Party.
He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the Budget Committee. He is chairman of the Religion Freedom America Caucus.
The 2nd district runs from the crest of Blue Ridge Mountain in Jefferson County to Jackson County on the banks of the Ohio River. Representatives’ terms are for two years. Representatives’ salaries are $174,000 per year.
Mooney will face the winner of the Democrat primary. With 279 precincts of 542 reporting, Mark Hunt had a narrow lead of 1,002 votes over Cory Simpson.
Results include early voting and absentee votes. Results are unofficial until certified by the county commissions during canvassing on May 16.
Reporter John McVey can be reached at 304-263-8931, ext. 128.
