David McKinley

David Bennett McKinley (March 28, 1947 – April 17, 2026) was an American businessman and politician who served as the U.S. representative for West Virginia's 1st congressional district from 2011 to 2023. A member of the Republican Party, McKinley was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1980 to 1994, and chaired the West Virginia Republican Party from 1990 to 1994.

McKinley was generally considered a moderate Republican. After West Virginia lost a House seat in the 2020 redistricting cycle, his district was merged with that of Representative Alex Mooney. McKinley lost to Mooney with 35.6% of the vote in the 2022 Republican primary.

McKinley was born in Wheeling, West Virginia, on March 28, 1947. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Purdue University in 1970.

McKinley worked as a civil engineer for 12 years until founding his own firm, McKinley and Associates, based in Wheeling. The 40-member firm has been involved in $1 billion in construction projects over the past 30 years.

McKinley and Associates has renovated structures of historic significance in West Virginia communities, such as the Capitol Theatre in Wheeling.

He was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from 1980 to 1994. From 1990 to 1994, he chaired the West Virginia Republican Party. As chair, he was very critical of West Virginia's two Democratic U.S. senators. In 1991, he criticized Senator Jay Rockefeller for exploring a run for president against President George H. W. Bush. In 1994, he criticized Senator Robert Byrd for opposing a Balanced Budget Amendment.

In 1996, McKinley ran in the Republican primary for governor against astronaut Jon McBride and former governor Cecil Underwood. He came in third place; Underwood won the general election.

McKinley ran in West Virginia's 1st congressional district. The Democratic incumbent, Alan Mollohan, lost the Democratic primary to the more conservative State Senator Mike Oliverio. McKinley won the six-candidate Republican primary with 35% of the vote. Mac Warner ranked second with 27% of the vote and State Senator Sarah Minear ranked third with 21%.

McKinley received many endorsements during his campaign, including from Parkersburg News, National Right to Life, the West Virginians for Life PAC, the National Federation of Independent Business, House Republicans Fund, West Virginia Farm Bureau, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

McKinley narrowly defeated Oliverio, 50.4%–49.6%, a difference of just 1,440 votes. He became only the fourth person to represent the district since 1953.

McKinley ran for reelection in the newly redrawn 1st district. He defeated Democratic nominee Sue Thorn, a former community organizer, 62%–38%, winning every county in the district.

In 2013, McKinley announced that he would not run for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Jay Rockefeller in 2014.

McKinley was a seventh-generation resident of Wheeling, West Virginia. He had four children and six grandchildren. His wife, Mary, was a critical care nurse for 39 years. She holds a master's degree in nursing. McKinley was an Episcopalian.

McKinley died in Wheeling on April 17, 2026, at the age of 79.