The Case for Common Ground
Ace Parsi on the campaign trail in Harpers Ferry, WV. July 2026.
The Democratic challenger for West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District says representation starts with listening—not partisanship.
Running as a Democrat in one of the country’s most Republican congressional districts isn’t a challenge Ace Parsi tries to avoid. It’s one the Iranian-born, Morgantown community organizer passionately embraces.
Campaigning against incumbent Republican Riley Moore for election to the U.S. House representing West Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District, Parsi said his focus isn’t convincing voters to become Democrats, but rather listening to the issues they believe have gone unheard.
“I first start by telling people they’re worth listening to. I listen to them first, and I ask them what their major problems are,” he said.
Parsi noted that the partisan divide dominating national politics often disappears once conversations turn to everyday life. “What I find all across the state is that there’s actually a great deal of shared interest.”
Whether Republican, Democrat, or Independent, Parsi said West Virginians consistently raise many of the same concerns: affordable health care, reliable infrastructure, quality public education, good-paying jobs, and a desire to have a voice in decisions affecting their communities.
“These are things every West Virginian I talk to shares with me,” he said. “Their concerns matter, and they deserve someone who will advocate for them.”
That philosophy, Parsi said, also defines the biggest difference between his campaign and Moore’s. “If elected, I’ll show up,” he assured. “I’ll hold town halls, and I’ll listen to your problems. When you ask me a question, you won’t get a form letter—you’ll get an actual response.”
Parsi said his focus would remain on what he described as the everyday concerns of West Virginians, pointing to clean drinking water, education, jobs, and the economic impact of recent federal workforce reductions.
“I’d be an advocate for the issues that affect people’s everyday lives.”
Worth Believing In
To that end, Parsi rejects the idea that Washington’s partisan divide has made bipartisan progress impossible. In fact, he argues many of the issues facing West Virginia still offer opportunities for common ground.
“I actually enjoy talking to people who disagree with me,” he affirmed. “I like bringing people together, as long as there’s a shared interest in finding common ground.”
Among those shared concerns, Parsi pointed to the growing debate over data centers, saying residents across the political spectrum have voiced concerns about water resources, rising utility costs, tourism, and property values.
He also identified health care, fiscal accountability, and veterans’ services as areas where lawmakers should be able to move beyond partisan politics. “Real accountability—we can all advocate for greater transparency,” he indicated. “Where government can help reduce prescription drug prices, we should be willing to do that. Caring for West Virginia’s veterans—including protecting benefits, strengthening services, and addressing veteran homelessness. These aren’t partisan issues—they’re responsibilities.”
That said, he admits the campaign has evolved his own perspective. “Conversations with voters—particularly those who don’t initially support me—have reshaped how I talk about patriotism, faith, and the values that connect people across political divides. Democrats are often quick to go to the statistics—but miss the human sides of issues. The stories—and the values behind them.”
Parsi recalled attending the Buckhannon Barbecue Festival, where a musician began singing Proud to Be an American and the crowd stood in unison. “If you want to find a patriotic American,” he said, “find an immigrant who’s fled authoritarianism.”
That moment, he said, reinforced the importance of talking openly about why America is worth believing in—and why shared values often matter more than policy arguments.
“I think voters want to know that you genuinely like them and that you share their values before you ever try to persuade them on policy.”
Restoring Confidence
Asked what success would look like after a first term in Congress, Parsi said it begins with changing the country’s priorities.
“At one point, we were spending around one billion dollars a day on the conflict with Iran. Meanwhile, it would take roughly $250 million to make a significant impact on West Virginia’s drinking water crisis, yet we haven’t made that investment.”
Parsi said he would make improving the state’s water infrastructure a top priority if elected. “If I were serving on the Appropriations Committee, I would fight to ensure that funding for West Virginia’s water infrastructure was included before supporting an appropriations bill.”
He also pointed to the future of rural health care, saying hospitals across the state are facing increasing financial pressure. “I’d work to overturn the One Big Beautiful Bill because it creates a time bomb for rural hospitals. Whether someone receives care through Medicaid or private insurance, those hospitals serve entire communities. Keeping them open benefits everyone.”
Beyond infrastructure and health care, Parsi said restoring public confidence in government would remain a central goal. “We’ve seen too many things that continue to undermine confidence in our democracy—from partisan gerrymandering to barriers that make voting more difficult. I’d champion reforms that restore confidence in our elections and strengthen people’s faith in our democratic institutions.”
Human Solutions
Parsi also questioned the state’s broader approach to economic development, arguing that not every project promising jobs and tax revenue ultimately serves West Virginia’s long-term interests.
“Data centers are one example,” he underscored. “The state should carefully weigh their impact on water resources, electric rates, tourism, and local communities before embracing them.”
A more worthwhile alternative? “How about a greater emphasis on community wealth-building through investments in small businesses, entrepreneurs, farmers, and workforce development.
“Those businesses give communities their character, and make people want to live here. They strengthen relationships and create healthier local economies.”
That same philosophy shapes his approach to another issue that has long challenged West Virginia: substance abuse.
Rather than viewing the issue solely through the lens of treatment or enforcement, Parsi believes the state should invest more heavily in the people who care for those struggling with addiction.
“I’m promoting a ‘care stimulus,’ aimed at expanding the ranks of teachers, nurses, police officers, and social workers. I see addiction as a human problem, and human problems require human solutions.”
Ultimately, as a reflection on the campaign so far, Parsi explained that he worries many people have come to believe government is simply too distant—or too broken—to improve their lives.
“I think one of the goals of the shock-and-awe strategy we see in the current administration is to beat the hope out of people—to convince them the system is so far beyond their reach, there’s no point in trying, and they should simply be grateful for whatever crumbs they’re given,” he said.
“I believe people deserve better than that.”
Find out more, and support Ace Parsi at www.aceforcongress.com.
