I haven't written on this blog about my campaign for Congress since I signed up to run, more than four months ago. I had a challenger in the primary, Angela J. Dwyer, a Black woman from Martinsburg, in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. We met once in person, at the opening of the Democratic Party office in Shepherdstown, at the far end of the Eastern Panhandle. Rather than drive back from there, over 150 miles, I drove to my sister's house in Maryland and spent two nights with her.
I attended events in Brooke, Hardy, Jefferson, Marion, Marshall, Ohio, Randolph, Taylor and Wetzel Counties before the primary. I met online with people in Berkeley County, and recorded a video for Tucker County. I understand better how beautiful West Virginia is, driving home through the hills and mountains, watching the change of seasons from winter to spring, sometimes on one trip across the mountains.
I heard from people about problems I didn't understand, like the long wait to get an appointment at the VA Hospitals in Clarksburg and Martinsburg. I learned from reading about students at WVU lobbying in Charleston, about the mental health crisis on college campuses nationally and in our state.
I won the primary, although Angela Dwyer won a few counties and did not embarrass herself in any way. It was a good, clean campaign. The Republican candidates, who had much more money, endorsements and name recognition, ran ads on television. Alex Mooney, endorsed by Donald Trump, ran ads accusing his opponent, David McKinley, endorsed by Governor Jim Justice and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, of being a supporter of Nancy Pelosi and giving Biden "a victory" by voting for the infrastructure bill, which will bring billions of dollars to West Virginia to repair our crumbling roads and bridges. McKinley bragged that he "Voted with Trump 92% of the time."
Alex Mooney won the Republican primary to the chagrin of many. He faces an ethics investigation over his use of campaign funds for personal use and lying about it. The Dominion-Post, our local paper in Morgantown, ran an editorial against Mooney, suggesting that McKinley could get back in the race somehow. My name was not mentioned.
I've recently met online with Lacy Watson, the sole Democratic candidate in District 1, our state's other Congressional District. He's bright and articulate, and he was wearing a "Doors" tank top. We aim to be the Raphael Warnock and John Ossoff of West Virginia.
Lacy and I noted that the Charleston Gazette-Mail has not mentioned either of us since the election. The Morgantown Dominion Post hasn't mentioned me either, although they have trashed Alex Mooney. Today (6/5) they printed a letter I wrote about the need to ban assault weapons. Originally it was an op-ed piece, but they insisted I shorten it to a letter, and cut out the political part, naming names of people who have failed America, notably Ronald Reagan, Mitch McConnell and West Virginia's Senator Shelley Moore Capito. I did a twenty-minute interview with Channel 10 and WRNR in Martinsburg, and there was a front-page interview with me in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, so there is some coverage of the campaign in the district.
I haven't raised a lot of money, and half of that has been from friends and family in Maryland, Florida, New York and California. The other half is from people I know here in West Virginia, and people who want an alternative to Alex Mooney. I'm disappointed about not having more support from the state and national Democratic Party, from the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, and West Virginia Can't Wait. I've gotten advice, but no official endorsement, from Working Families Party.
Still, I have an organization that's meeting weekly and I'm hoping to get things done soon. Yesterday (June 4) I drove to Martinsburg to spend time at the Eastern Panhandle Pride event. The event was different from what I'm used to, but I lived in West Hollywood. Times have changed, too. There are a lot more variations on "gay" "lesbian" and "queer" than there used to be. I met lots of people and gave out flyers for my campaign. I feel like I've aged out of the active LGBT community, but it was great to be with my spiritual grandchildren for an afternoon.
I'm optimistic about the campaign, partly because Alex Mooney is in deep trouble over ethics violations, and because the last President's influence is waning. I have something to say to people: I will be present, I will support women's rights, trade unions, people over corporations. I want to ban assault weapons, strengthen the background checks for gun purchases and have a national permitting plan. That resonates with my constituency. I'm also proud that so many people have offered to help, from my junior high classmates (Sudbrook 1964, Pikesville Maryland) to people I've met on the way and others who've heard about my campaign. I have to also thank my husband, Joe Hample for encouraging and supporting me, even if it means being away from him more than either of us want.
Even if I don't win, I've had something important to say. I've come to know the northern half of the state much better, to appreciate its natural beauty and the diversity of the population. It's a thrilling ride, by far the coolest thing I've ever attempted.
