MAGA split decision: Pro-Trump Republican wins in West Virginia but loses Nebraska governor primary
A pro-Trump Republican easily won a GOP congressional primary in West Virginia but the former president’s pick for Nebraska governor fell to defeat in another Republican-on-Republican race
Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.) rode former President Trump’s endorsement to an easy victory over fellow GOP Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) in a primary fight forced when the state lost a congressional seat due to declining population.
But Trump’s backing failed to pay off for Charles Herbster, who lost the Nebraska gubernatorial primary amid serial sexual harassment accusations.
“Donald Trump loves West Virginia, and West Virginia loves Donald Trump,” Mooney said in a victory speech after his 54%-36% win. “When Donald Trump puts his mind to something, you better watch out.”
McKinley was heavily criticized by Trump for breaking with his party as one of 13 Republicans to vote with the Democrats to support President Biden’s $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.
Trump called McKinley a RINO, or “Republican in Name Only” and endorsed Mooney the day Biden signed the infrastructure law.
“I have always stood up for what’s right for West Virginia — even when it hurt me politically,” McKinley said in defeat.
In Nebraska, Herbster, who had Trump’s vocal support, lost by a 34%-30% margin to millionaire hog farmer and University of Nebraska regent Jim Pillen, who was backed by powerful current GOP Gov. Pete Ricketts.
Like Mooney, Pillen is now the overwhelming favorite to win in November over a Democratic opponent.
“We live in the greatest place on the planet, right here in Nebraska,” Pillen said in a victory speech.
Herbster thanked Trump for his support and blamed his loss on a series of groping allegations, which he denied.
“This is one of the nastiest campaigns for governor in the history of Nebraska,” Herbster said.
The results of the two races amounted to a split decision on the closely watched impact of Trump’s endorsements in GOP midterm primary races.
Trump flexed his political muscle by engineering a come-from-behind win for conservative author J.D. Vance in Ohio’s Republican primary.
But tough tests lie ahead for his favored candidates in Pennsylvania, where TV’s Dr. Oz is locked in a neck-and-neck race and in Georgia, where Trump-backed David Perdue is badly trailing incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp.
