Club for Growth endorses Mooney in 2024 West Virginia Senate race as Justice eyes bid

The Club for Growth, a conservative political group, has endorsed Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) in the 2024 West Virginia Senate race, announced on Tuesday. This comes as Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) is expected to be the front-runner in the Republican field for a race against Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).

“Mooney will be a great U.S. Senator and we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure he’s elected,” said Club for Growth PAC President David McIntosh in a statement. The group praised Mooney as a conservative champion who fights for lower taxes, safer neighborhoods, school freedom, and parental rights.

Mooney, who was re-elected to his House seat in 2022, announced his run for Senate in November. He is the only major GOP candidate who has declared for the 2024 Senate race, as Justice has not made an official announcement regarding a 2024 bid.

Justice, who is term-limited as governor, has expressed interest in running against Manchin in recent months. He has significantly higher approval ratings than Manchin, although Manchin has not indicated whether he will seek re-election to his seat.

If Manchin chooses not to run, it could make the Republican primary more consequential than the general election in the heavily Republican state.

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who lost to Manchin in 2018, announced on Tuesday that he would not seek a rematch against Manchin in the Senate race. Instead, he will run for governor in 2024.