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Put Rep. McKinley’s Seniority to Work in U.S. House

First District Congressman David McKinley, R-W.Va., has shown a willingness to take on the tough jobs in public service for over three decades. McKinley served in a dual role as a member of the House of Delegates from Ohio County and also state GOP Chair.

In both capacities, McKinley didn’t have the luxury of helping to lead a party that was in power.

McKinley cut his teeth politically during a time when the West Virginia Republican Party was still in the wilderness, having been the minority party in West Virginia for decades.

But McKinley believed so strongly in his conservative principles that he advocated for them even when it looked like the Democrats would be in charge forever in West Virginia. As state GOP Chairman, he challenged the Democratic Party in West Virginia at every opportunity. As a Delegate, he looked out for his district as well as for a traditional, conservative agenda: consistently pro-life, pro-small business, and pro-taxpayer.

Understanding McKinley’s background in state politics is important.

First, McKinley’s consistent, conservative record shows that he is trustworthy on the social and economic issues of importance to West Virginians.

But there’s a second good result from McKinley’s experience during the years when the Republicans weren’t in power: Being in that minority position forces one to be tenacious while looking for those across the aisle who can join you on an important piece of legislation.

That’s exactly what Congressman McKinley has done during his time in Congress. He has held firm to his long-held conservative beliefs while persuading the occasional Democrat to join his efforts.

Whether in helping to save the West Virginia coal industry or grilling Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about controlled substances being sold on his platform, McKinley’s principled conservatism represents his First District constituents well and draws support from many quarters.

That’s what makes McKinley effective.

He does his homework, digs his heels in until he finds the answers at Congressional hearings, and makes himself available to his constituents from Chester to Parkersburg to Bridgeport.

We benefit from his life in public service every time he looks into a top public policy issue or an individual constituent’s request for assistance in dealing with the federal government.

McKinley is in a position familiar to him from the past, serving in the Republican minority this time in Congress right now.

But with his seniority after six terms in the House of Representatives, McKinley is in a great position to advance West Virginia’s views on major committees if the Republicans take over after this November’s elections.

Let’s keep our investment in Congressman David McKinley in the Republican Primary in May and in the 2022 General Election in November. Through his experience and proven conservative track record, he has earned the chance to represent the Second District as part of the new, likely Republican House Majority.

Stephen N. Reed is a former Deputy Secretary of State for West Virginia.

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