Photo by Steven Allen Adams State Treasurer Riley Moore (right) filed for the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District Monday at the Secretary of State’s Office in Charleston. He was joined by his wife Mina; their three children, Riley Jr., Magdalena, and Aislinn; and father Arch Moore III.

CHARLESTON – U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney may not have been successful in his run for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, but State Treasurer Riley Moore easily secured the Republican nomination for Mooney’s current seat, while U.S. Rep. Carol Miller held off a challenge from a convicted Jan. 6 rioter.

According to unofficial election results Tuesday night compiled by West Virginia MetroNews, Moore had the lead in the Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional District with more than 43,000 votes, or 46% of the vote. His nearest GOP competitor, Harrison County resident Joe Earley, had more than 19,000 votes (21%), followed by retired West Virginia Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Chris “Mookie” Walker, with more than 13,000 votes, or 14% of the vote.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Moore said by phone Tuesday night. “First and foremost, I’m in this position just by the grace of God and it’s an incredible honor to be able to be in a position to be the Republican nominee and – I think – highly likely to represent this district in Congress after November.”

Moore is wrapping up his first term as state treasurer, defeating six-term state treasurer John Perdue in 2020. A former member of the House of Delegates representing Jefferson County, Moore announced his campaign for the House in November 2022 after Mooney announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate. Moore has been endorsed by GOP House leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.

Moore’s grandfather – the late governor Arch Moore Jr. – served 12 years in Congress as a Republican representing counties in the Northern Panhandle. His aunt – U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. – represented the 2nd Congressional District from 2001 to 2015. His cousin, former House Judiciary Committee Chairman Moore Capito, was also on the ballot Tuesday for the Republican nomination for governor.

Other GOP candidates for the GOP nomination for the 2nd District included Berkeley County resident Nate Cain with more than 11,000 votes (12%); and Randolph County native Alexander Gaaserud with more than 6,000 votes (7%). Moore will face retired U.S. Navy officer Steven Wendelin in November, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The National Republican Congressional Committee released a statement Tuesday night congratulating Moore for his win.

“As the current State Treasurer and a former State Delegate whose track record shows he isn’t afraid to fight ESG efforts and oppose extreme environmentalists, it’s clear why West Virginians elected him today and will overwhelmingly send Riley to Congress in November,” said NRCC Spokeswoman Delanie Bomar.

In the 1st Congressional District, Miller, R-W.Va., easily sailed to a GOP nomination for a fourth term in the House of Representatives with more than 59,000 votes, carrying 63% of the vote. Derrick Evans, who was briefly a Republican lawmaker before joining hundreds that stormed the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, only had more than 35,000 votes, or 37% of the vote.

“It has been the honor of my life to represent West Virginia in Congress, and I am grateful to have won the Republican primary in West Virginia’s First Congressional District tonight,” Miller said in a statement. “I’m thankful to represent my wild and wonderful state in Washington, and I will continue to work to make West Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family.”

Miller – a former state lawmaker and Speaker Pro Tempore – was first elected to the former 3rd Congressional District in 2018, endorsed by former Republican President Donald Trump. She is in her third term in Congress representing the renamed 1st Congressional District covering the southern half of the state. Miller’s son, businessman Chris Miller, was also on Tuesday’s ballot as a GOP candidate for governor.

Evans, who was elected to the House of Delegates in 2020 to represent Wayne County, resigned after he was arrested for his part in storming the U.S. Capitol Building in 2021 to try to stop the certification of the presidential election for President Joe Biden. Evans later pleaded guilty to a felony for his part in the riot and was sentenced to three months in prison, though Evans has since made Jan. 6 a central part of his campaign.

Miller will face Democratic challenger Jim Umberger of Lewisburg in November.