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Justice outpaces Mooney in end-of-year fundraising

Moore, Miller draw more than opponents in congressional races

CHARLESTON — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice outraised U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney in contributions between Justice’s campaign and his joint fundraising committee, though Mooney continues to enjoy more available cash and big spending by political action committees.

Candidates for federal races, such as U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, filed their year-end 2023 campaign finance reports to the Federal Election Commission Wednesday. The reports cover the final three months of 2023.

According to his year-end report, the Justice campaign raised $571,607 for the quarter, bringing their election year-to-date contributions to $2.1 million. Justice is heading into the first quarter of 2024 with $1.23 million in cash-on-hand.

The Justice Victory Committee, a joint fundraising committee formed with the National Republican Senatorial Committee, raised $494,000 for the quarter and election year-to-date, leaving it with $12,423 in cash-on-hand. Joint fundraising committees allow for unlimited donations, though transfers from the committee to a candidate cannot exceed donation limits.

The Justice Victory Committee transferred $34,000 to Justice’s U.S. Senate campaign, with the campaign receiving $117,500 from other political action committees. Justice’s total quarterly contributions for his campaign and his joint fundraising committee came to more than $1 million.

The Mooney campaign raised $432,117 during the quarter, bringing their election year-to-date contributions to $1.774 million. Mooney has $1.766 million in cash-on-hand for the new quarter.

Team Mooney – a joint fundraising committee with the Americans for Legislating Excellence PAC, Club for Growth Action and the Morgan County Republican Executive Committee – raised $136,790 for the quarter and $709,094 election year-to-date, leaving the joint fundraising committee with $13,542 in cash-on-hand.

After disbursing $2,400 to both the Americans for Legislating Excellence PAC and Club for Growth Action and $33,981 for the Morgan County REC, Team Mooney transferred $35,712 to the Mooney campaign. Mooney’s quarterly campaign contributions and quarterly contributions to Team Mooney came to $568,957 for the final three months of 2023.

The Club for Growth PAC and Club for Growth Action are offshoots of conservative advocacy organization Club for Growth. As of the end of 2023, the Club for Growth PAC has spent $34,745 on behalf of Mooney, while more than $1.9 million has been spent as of Dec. 31 by Club for Growth Action against Justice.

Last year, the Club for Growth pledged $10 million to support Mooney over Justice. The Senate Conservatives Fund has also spent $152,644 since the end of 2023 on behalf of Mooney.

In the May Republican primary, Justice and Mooney also face Inwood resident Bryan McKinney, who raised $7,225 for the quarter and election year-to-date, leaving him with $135 in cash-on-hand. Princeton resident Zane Lawhorn filed no report for the quarter. Martinsburg resident Janet McNulty was not a candidate in the previous quarter.

In the Democratic primary, Princeton veteran and community organizer Zachary Shrewsbury raised $72,257 for the quarter and election year-to-date, leaving him with $23,136 in cash-on-hand. Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott was not a candidate for U.S. Senate in the previous quarter and will file a campaign finance report at the end of the first quarter.

For the GOP primary for 2nd Congressional District to succeed Mooney, State Treasurer Riley Moore maintained his monetary advantage. Moore raised $109,137 for the quarter and $726,296 election year-to-date, leaving him with $506,678 in cash-on-hand.

Team Riley — a joint fundraising committee with Moore-affiliated Mountaineer PAC — raised $41,950 during the quarter and $78,281 election year-to-date, leaving the joint fundraising committee with $13,074 in cash-on-hand. The committee disbursed $8,500 to Mountaineer PAC and $23,000 to the Moore campaign. The quarterly fundraising total between the Moore campaign and Team Riley was $151,087.

Other Republican candidates for the 2nd Congressional District include Bridgeport resident Joe Earley, who raised $40,573 during the quarter and $71,614 election year-to-date, leaving him with $65,493 in cash-on-hand. Earley still shows $80,000 in loans/debts. Hedgesville resident Nate Cain raised $23,263 for the quarter and $85,198 election year-to-date, leaving him with $2,596 in cash-on-hand.

Elkins resident Alexander Gaaserud reported no additional fundraising between quarter three and his end-of-2023 report, showing $8,000 in loans/debts and only $11 in cash-on-hand. Retired Gen. Chris “Mookie” Walker did not file for the 2nd Congressional District until last month and won’t have a report to file until next quarter.

Retired Navy commander Steve Wendelin is the only Democratic candidate in the 2nd Congressional District race. He raised $7,680 during the quarter and election year-to-date, leaving him with $5,474 in cash-on-hand.

In the Republican primary for 1st Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Carol Miller raised $137,705 during the quarter and $579,900 election year-to-date. That leaves Miller with $276,461 in cash-on-hand, and her account still shows $417,993 in loans/debts.

Former Wayne County Republican delegate Derrick Evans – who pleaded guilty to a felony after being charged for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol Building by supporters of former Republican president Donald Trump to stop the certification of the election for Democratic President Joe Biden – raised $179,904 for the quarter. He raised $291,007 election year-to-date and has $78,238 in cash-on-hand.

In the Democratic primary for the 1st District, Lewisburg resident Jim Umberger raised $50,424 for the quarter and election year-to-date, leaving him with $42,564 in cash-on-hand. Charleston resident Chris Bob Reed filed during the current quarter and had no report.

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com

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