Moore, Miller lead in congressional fundraising
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CHARLESTON -- While the race for U.S. Senate in 2024 has received much of the headlines, candidates for Congress in West Virginia are also raising money, with the state's incumbent congresswoman and the state's chief financial officer leading the pack in donations.
Federal candidates submitted their July quarterly report to the Federal Election Commission by a Saturday deadline. These reports cover the second quarter of the year between April and June.
In the 2nd Congressional District covering the northern half of West Virginia, State Treasurer Riley Moore has a secure financial advantage in the Republican primary to succeed U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va.
Moore raised $197,545 during the three-month quarter and $476,007 election year-to-date. After spending $33,267 year-to-date, Moore has $440,781 in cash-on-hand.
Moore is more than halfway through his first four-year term as State Treasurer, defeating six-term former Democratic state treasurer John Perdue in 2020. A former one-term member of the House of Delegates representing Jefferson County, Moore is a former staffer with the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Since he announced his candidacy, Moore has been endorsed by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La. Moore announced his campaign in November 2022 shortly after Mooney - who had just won a fifth term to the 2nd Congressional District seat -- announced his campaign for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat held by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.
"West Virginians and conservatives nationwide are responding to Riley Moore's candidacy," said Moore campaign spokesperson Luke Thompson. "He enjoys broad support, and is running a professional campaign. Money isn't everything, but with almost half a million dollars cash on hand today, we will have the resources to win in May and November."
There are three other Republican candidates in the 2nd District race, though Moore has raised substantially more than his nearest competitor, Bridgeport cybersecurity specialist Joe Earley, who raised $15,548 during the quarter and $16,273 election year-to-date. Of the $15,548 in donations, 38% came from himself. After spending $12,114 to date, Earley has $85,186 in cash-on-hand going into the summer, but $80,000 came from a loan from himself.
Nate Cain of Hedgesville raised $19,217 for the quarter and $34,219 election year-to-date. After spending $33,430 to date, Lane has $789 in cash-on-hand. Alex Gaaserud of Elkins reported no contributions for the quarter, having raised $5,400 election year-to-date. After spending $10,389 to date, Gaaserud has $10.86 in cash-on-hand and has $8,000 in debt from two loans to his campaign totaling $5,000 and $3,000 owed to the Krason and Wool Political Strategy Group.
In the 1st Congressional District covering the southern half of the state, U.S. Rep. Carol Miller has a safe financial cushion compared to her only Republican opponent, convicted Jan. 6 rioter Derrick Evans.
Miller, R-W.Va., raised $166,251 for the quarter and $310,214 election year-to-date. She spent $180,394 to date, leaving Miller with $225,413 in cash-on-hand. Miller also has $417,993 in outstanding debts and loans, including an outstanding loan balance of $$411,900.
Miller won election to the new 1st District after the state dropped from three to two districts after the 2020 U.S. Census. Miller represented the 3rd Congressional District for two terms after serving as a Republican member of the House of Delegates representing Cabell County.
Evans raised $13,968 during the quarter and $29,564 election year-to-date. After spending $19,907 to date, Evans $9,657 in cash-on-hand.
Evans was first elected to the House of Delegates in 2020 as a Republican representing Wayne County. But he resigned before taking office after he was arrested for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former president Donald Trump to stop the certification of the 2020 election for U.S. President Joe Biden.
Evans, who recorded himself breaking into the Capitol with fellow rioters, pleaded guilty to a felony count of civil disorder and was sentenced to three months in jail. But despite expressing remorse for his actions in court, Evans has since backed away from his earlier remorse. According to his campaign website, Evans still believes the 2020 presidential election was stolen.