In keeping with my commitment, I am searching the nation for the top Conservative options in order to prevent RINOs from betraying their campaign conservative stances. In the past primaries, specifically Illinois, it was incredibly disappointing how Conservatism performed at the ballot. In neighboring state, Indiana, things look a little more hopeful. A common theme in this edition will be the opposition of incumbents who voted for Omnibus. West Virginia is a state stereotyped nationwide, so its strange that something viewed as backwater has a lot of Dems. The presence of coal and unions makes for a competitive political mix of ideas. This election presents an opportunity to expand on the Conservative ideas in the state. West Virginia is small but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in laughs. But an unfortunate observation is the lack of initiative to challenge incumbents. This is how we get career RINOs. Nonetheless there are good candidates in the state.
Best Picks: Patrick Morrisey, Marty Gearheart
Worst Picks: Evan Jenkins
Honorable Mention: Don Blankenship
Best Race: No Award
Worst Race: District 1
WVSen
Joe Manchin holds the Senate and has held the seat since before the Democrats went off the deep end leaving him in an awkward place politically. This amounts to the perfect opportunity for the GOP to claim the seat that will not easily be yielded in the future political climate. The race has already brought us the most laughable campaign commercial featuring Don Blankenship, a coal man who referred to Mitch McConnell as “Cocaine Mitch” and the Chinese as “China people.” What he lacks conventions he compensated with hilarity and political colloquialisms.
However that is as far as my compliments of Blankenship really go. He’s not really a man of integrity and isn’t really campaigning on principles at all. We needed that commercial though, and I hope he’s successful in coining “Cocaine Mitch.” The other candidates in the top three are Patrick Morrisey and Evan Jenkins. Before the fall of Steve Bannon (praise God for that!) Patrick Morrisey was one of his top prospects. Evan Jenkins, called on Morrisey to disavow Bannon’s support. Morrisey is the Attorney General for West Virginia. Notably Morrisey has a busy record on the subject of substance abuse. He has gone after pharmaceutical companies. West Virginia has been hit especially hard by heroin and synthetics. He also has a record that suggests he would be fiscally responsible. Morrisey is also particularly strong in defending the unborn favoring overturning Roe v Wade. Morrisey not only is campaigning Conservative, but also has the record to back it up.
Evan Jenkins is a current Congressman. He’s been in three years and already has a RINO record. He voted for Omnibus and several other fiscally irresponsible legislation. It goes without saying, he is not the right candidate for Conservatives.
Conservative Pick: Patrick Morrisey
District 1
David McKinley is a RINO and is running unopposed. If you want a Republican who will spend money, McKinley is your guy. I was tempted to throw in a Democrat as a recommendation, but they are all running on giving people jobs and other untrustworthy promises.
District 2
Alexander Mooney is an unopposed incumbent also. He is a member of the Freedom Caucus.
District 3
Here we have some action due to a vacancy because of a certain RINO seeking a Senate seat. The most serious candidates are Conrad Lucas and Carol Miller. Both have split endorsements that aren’t helpful. Conrad Lucas is in the high ranks of the Republican Party which seems like a bad sign. Despite this, Lucas is positioning himself as a principled Conservative. The Harvard grad isn’t running on an overly specific campaign.
In sharp contrast Miller is a state delegate running on cutting the bull. She has a decently strong Conservative record. I am concerned she is more Trumpist than Conservative though. Rupie Phillips is a former Democrat running. He ditched the party back in 2016 and has had a decent Conservative voting record in the House of Delegates since. A top Conservative in the House of Delegates Marty Gearheart. He promises to join the Freedom Caucus if elected. Record matters and Conrad Lucas’s record is being in the bureaucracy of the GOP. Carol Miller also feels the need to attack Lucas over Harvard, a weak ad hominid. She should stick to her bison farm.
As the owner of a bison farm, I know what it means to work hard, create jobs, & grow a business. I'm running to cut the bull out of politics. I'm asking for your support in the primary election on May 8! #WV03
SIGN the pledge to show your support>>> https://t.co/7Kp03yGxFZ pic.twitter.com/7XiFl0nakA
— Carol Miller (@CarolMillerWV) May 1, 2018
Conservative Pick: Marty Gearheart
