Current:Home > InvestUnrepentant Jan. 6 rioter Derrick Evans goes up against GOP Rep. Carol Miller in West Virginia -Keystone Capital Education
Unrepentant Jan. 6 rioter Derrick Evans goes up against GOP Rep. Carol Miller in West Virginia
View
Date:2025-04-19 00:27:22
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Incumbent Rep. Carol Miller has seen plenty of political challengers throughout her long, popular career, but perhaps not one as boisterous as Derrick Evans, her opponent in Tuesday’s Republican primary in West Virginia’s 1st Congressional District.
Evans was a participant in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, and his verbal attacks on the three-term congresswoman have grown louder as the election has neared.
Both are huge backers of former President Donald Trump, but that’s where the similarities may end.
Miller has kept a low profile compared to some of her more outspoken colleagues since becoming the third woman from West Virginia elected to Congress in 2018. The 73-year-old bison farmer and small business owner also served six terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Her father is the late U.S. Rep. Samuel Devine of Ohio.
In 2022, Miller received 66% of the vote in a five-candidate GOP primary en route to winning her third term in Congress. This time, Evans is her only opponent.
The 39-year-old Evans, whose campaign over the past month has pushed out emails almost daily highlighting his love for Trump and his attacks on Miller, was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates two months before the Jan. 6 riot. He calls himself the only elected official who “had the courage” to stand behind efforts to temporarily halt the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. He livestreamed himself on Facebook cheering on what he described as a “revolution.”
Evans was arrested two days after the riot and resigned his seat a month before the 2021 legislative session. He pleaded guilty to a felony civil disorder charge and served three months in prison. At his sentencing hearing, Evans apologized for his actions, but he did an about-face upon leaving prison. He began portraying himself as a victim of a politically motivated prosecution.
What to know about the 2024 Election
- Democracy: American democracy has overcome big stress tests since 2020. More challenges lie ahead in 2024.
- AP’s Role: The Associated Press is the most trusted source of information on election night, with a history of accuracy dating to 1848. Learn more.
- Read the latest: Follow AP’s complete coverage of this year’s election.
Evans once called himself a Democrat, finishing sixth out of seven candidates in a state House primary in 2016. He then switched to the Libertarian Party in the general election and finished last among five candidates.
In the campaign against Miller, Evans has called her a “commie RINO” who “refused to stand and fight with President Trump,” as well as an “undocumented Democrat.” Miller was aligned with Trump in nearly 100% of her House votes while the former president was in office.
Evans has echoed false claims still made by Trump that the 2020 election was stolen. And in the hours after Evans and other rioters had stormed the Capitol, Miller voted to challenge the Electoral College results in two states Biden won. Miller said in a statement at the time that she had a constitutional duty to “ensure that all Americans have access to free, fair, and accurate elections.”
In an email to The Associated Press, Miller did not directly address the 2020 result. But she said she is the only candidate in the race who “has never been a registered Democrat or run for office as a Democrat.”
The winner of Tuesday’s race moves on to the Nov. 5 general election to face one of two Democrats from Charleston — Vietnam veteran Jim Umberger or educator Chris Reed.
In the 2nd Congressional District, state Treasurer Riley Moore was among five candidates seeking the GOP nomination for the seat being vacated by Republican Alex Mooney, who is running for U.S. Senate. Democrat Steven Wendelin was running unopposed.
West Virginia hasn’t elected a Democrat to the House since 2012 and was one of only two states where Trump won every county in 2016 and 2020.
veryGood! (4)
Related
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Judge blocks removal of Confederate memorial from Arlington Cemetery, for now
- These wild super pigs are twice as big as U.S. feral hogs — and they're poised to invade from Canada
- Wisconsin Assembly’s top Republican wants to review diversity positions across state agencies
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- 'Maestro' review: A sensational Bradley Cooper wields a mean baton as Leonard Bernstein
- Marvel universe drops Jonathan Majors as Kang the Conqueror after conviction. Now what?
- Regulators approve deal to pay for Georgia Power’s new nuclear reactors
- The company planning a successor to Concorde makes its first supersonic test
- Group turned away at Mexican holiday party returned with gunmen killing 11, investigators say
Ranking
- Could your smelly farts help science?
- North Korea and Russia clash with US, South Korea and allies over Pyongyang’s latest missile launch
- Jennifer Love Hewitt hits back at claims she's 'unrecognizable': 'Aging in Hollywood is really hard'
- Google to pay $700 million to U.S. states for stifling competition against Android app store
- Macy's says employee who allegedly hid $150 million in expenses had no major 'impact'
- Groups sue over new Texas law that lets police arrest migrants who enter the US illegally
- New York will set up a commission to consider reparations for slavery
- George Santos says he'll be back — and other takeaways from his Ziwe interview
Recommendation
Arkansas State Police probe death of woman found after officer
Publix Spinach and Fresh Express Spinach recalled due to listeria fears
These wild super pigs are twice as big as U.S. feral hogs — and they're poised to invade from Canada
At least 100 elephants die in drought-stricken Zimbabwe park, a grim sign of El Nino, climate change
Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
Power outage maps: Over 500,000 customers without power in Maine, Massachusetts
Members of a union representing German train drivers vote for open-ended strikes in bitter dispute
Pope Francis says priests can bless same-sex couples but marriage is between a man and a woman