Yesterday, West Virginia Secretary of State Mac Warner announced that he was running for governor. According to Ogden's political reporter, Steven Allen Adams:

“The time is right,” Warner said to a crowd of more than 150 of supporters, friends, and fellow military veterans. “You, this community, our state and our nation has prepared me for this moment. I have the skills to lead West Virginia to its best days ever.”

In that race for governor, Warner joins the sons of present WV politicians: Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s son, Moore Capito, and First District Congresswoman Carol Miller’s son, Chris Miller.

While Adams’ article devotes almost 900 words to the speech by an Ogden Newspapers favorite, Adams does not mention something that was quickly picked-up by online commenters: Mac Warner’s Bon Jovi references. For example:

So, when Bon Jovi asks,”Who says you can’t go home?” – I agree with the sentiment.

And:

But now, I’m back home, and my focus is on West Virginia. While I loved my time in the Army, I’ll again cite Bon Jovi: I’ve “been there, done that, and I ain’t looking back!”

And:

Here in West Virginia, we know what a woman is, and we don’t want boys playing on girls’ teams! Once again, I quote Bon Jovi, “There’s only one place they call me one of their own, there’s only one place left I want to go. . . .”

So, Mac Warner is quoting this guy:

Amid a campaign season now largely void of its typical star-studded in-person concerts, Jon Bon Jovi urges Biden supporters to vote “for a man of empathy, character and experience.” pic.twitter.com/jWkJ990R6a

— Nicole Sganga (@NicoleSganga) October 24, 2020

Bon Jovi also played at the Biden inauguration:

Additionally, IMDB tells us:

He also campaigned for Al Gore in the 2000 Presidential election, John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential election, and Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election. In 2010, President Barack Obama named Bon Jovi to the White House Council for Community Solutions.

I find it fascinating that so many Republican politicians are attracted to quoting and playing liberal rockers at campaign events. Do they, and/or their audience, not see the contradiction?

Finally, I could not determine whether Warner wore acid-washed jeans to the event.