Of the numerous primary races held Tuesday, two resonated beyond state politics: the Republican gubernatorial primary in Nebraska and the 2nd Congressional District Republican primary in West Virginia.
Of the numerous primary races held Tuesday, two resonated beyond state politics: the Republican gubernatorial primary in Nebraska and the 2nd Congressional District Republican primary in West Virginia -- two races that together offered mixed messages about the power of an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Across the country, in the rare matchup between two incumbent lawmakers in West Virginia, ABC News projected Trump-backed Rep. Alex Mooney as the winner.Trump put his weight behind Mooney, who has echoed the former president's false claims about the 2020 election. McKinley, however, had the support of Republican West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin.Manchin even released an ad denouncing Mooney and declaring his support for McKinley.
As for Manchin's endorsement, Warner was unsure of whether it would have "much play at all in this in this particular race," which was also a test of one of President Joe Biden's signature policies. Greg Thomas, a Republican political consultant in the state who knows both candidates and once worked for McKinley, was of the belief that Trump's support for Mooney could, in fact, be a tipping point.