With just three days remaining until the general election, Republican incumbent Riley Moore and Democrat Ace Parsi are competing to represent West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District in Washington, D.C.
The race places two very different political backgrounds and philosophies directly in front of voters across the district. Moore has represented the seat since 2025, prior to which he served as West Virginia’s state treasurer and as a delegate in the state legislature. Parsi, who lives in Morgantown and was born in Iran before his family fled the country when he was a child, is positioning his campaign around economic relief for working families.
Moore Highlights Legislation Protecting Gun and Ammunition Purchases
On the campaign trail, Moore has heavily emphasized his legislative record and conservative credentials. One piece of legislation he highlights involves protecting Second Amendment rights by preventing financial institutions from tracking the purchases of firearms and ammunition.
“Well, one actually just passed the House just recently, and this one protects individuals’ Second Amendment rights. And it’s a piece of legislation actually done in the state legislature, and it prevents financial institutions from tracking the purchases of guns and ammunition, and which we think they have been using to create a backdoor national gun registry, which no one wants that. That’s a real invasion of privacy and violates Second Amendment,” Moore said.
Beyond gun rights, Moore points to his broader background in state government and the U.S. House as proof of his effectiveness. “Well, I have a proven record, obviously, as a fighter for West Virginia and a conservative fighter for our values, not only as a congressman but as a state treasurer and also a delegate in the state legislature. I think the record speaks for itself and I’d love to be able to continue the work. We’re just getting started and we’ve had a lot of success so far,” he said.
🗽 WEST VIRGINIA CAMPAIGN — WV-02Tous les regards se portent sur les Toss Ups. Mais les midterms racontent bien davantage.🗳️ Dans le WV-02, Riley Moore (R) affronte Ace Parsi (D) dans un siège classé républicain sûr.📚 Suivre les midterms, ce n’est pas seulement chercher où la… pic.twitter.com/aaOpT9rTct
Moore’s platform emphasizes supporting the American skilled workforce, backing fossil fuel industries against federal climate rules, and co-leading bipartisan legislation aimed at the safe disposal of unused opioids.
Economic Strains and the Debate Over Federal Spending
For Parsi, the central argument of the campaign hinges on everyday affordability and the financial pressures facing households. Drawing parallels to his own upbringing, where his mother supported the family through sewing and babysitting while his older brother worked at a grocery store, Parsi argues that government policies must deliver immediate relief.
“You know, when I talk to people on the trail and they tell me about how much they’re struggling financially, it reminds me of growing up. So my mother supported our family with jobs. She had sewing and babysitting and my older brother worked at a grocery store. So, you now, I only buy clothes at thrift stores still. I go to several grocery stores. So the challenges that people are experiencing, it hits me in terms of how I grew up,” Parsi said.
A major flashpoint between the two candidates has been the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed on July 4, 2025. During a debate hosted by WRNR in Martinsburg, Moore defended the measure for making tax cuts permanent, lowering taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security income, and expanding the child tax credit to assist small businesses and job creators.
Parsi countered that the same legislation contains significant cuts to Medicaid and SNAP benefits. “This is something that we need immediate relief on and so I think we need to overturn The big beautiful bill and bring back that that’s gonna has a time bomb in terms of the Medicaid cuts and the snap cuts That are coming. We need to unhook that that time bomb and then we need To take proactive action to make sure that people’s lives are affordable if if government doesn’t deliver for people then people will go against their government, and I believe that this government should deliver,” Parsi said.
Candidates Clash over National Security and Local Priorities
The candidates have also split sharply on national security issues, including the Iran War. Parsi argued against the conflict’s mounting financial costs, noting that his family remains endangered by the regime he escaped as a child. Moore defended the administration’s actions by pointing to the necessity of halting nuclear weapon development while emphasizing the long-term goal of American energy independence.
As voters prepare to cast their ballots, Moore maintains that his primary focus for a new term will be securing federal funding to improve local water systems, roads, and infrastructure across West Virginia. Parsi continues to advocate for community wealth building, small business prioritization, and structural changes to healthcare access.
