West Virginia Governor Jim Justice is projected to secure victory in the state’s Republican US Senate primary, according to CNN forecasts, positioning him as the leading contender to replace retiring Democratic Senator Joe Manchin in the deeply conservative state.
Justice is predicted to triumph in a competitive GOP primary that featured US Representative Alex Mooney, a member of the House Freedom Caucus. He will go head-to-head against Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, who secured the Democratic primary victory with Manchin’s endorsement. The West Virginia Senate seat has long been viewed as the most likely to switch parties this election cycle, which is crucial to the GOP's aspirations of securing a Senate majority in November. Manchin's decision to retire comes as a significant setback for Democrats who were hoping to maintain their narrow majority. Additionally, the party is defending seats in two other Republican-leaning states, Montana and Ohio, as well as in key battleground states such as Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
National Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, largely rallied behind Justice in the primary. Justice, prevented from seeking reelection as governor due to term limits, faced a fiercely contested primary against Mooney, marked by aggressive attacks.
Mooney's campaign launched scathing ads accusing Justice of backing “pro-transgender legislation” and implementing “the largest tax hike in West Virginia history.”
In response, Justice, a wealthy businessman who owns the Greenbrier resort and has transformed his inherited coal mining business into a sprawling empire, countered with ads featuring endorsements from West Virginia coal miners.
He also emphasized Trump’s endorsement and derided “Mooney and many others” for attempting to ride on Trump's coattails.
Justice, 73, was originally elected governor in 2016 as a Democrat but switched party affiliation during his first term, making the announcement at a 2017 rally with Trump.
Despite Justice’s initial election as a Democrat and Manchin’s reelection in 2018, West Virginia has become a predominantly Republican state. Trump secured over 68% of the vote in the state in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, and Manchin is now the sole remaining Democrat holding nonjudicial statewide office.
Recent reports from The New York Times have highlighted numerous legal battles facing Justice and his companies over significant, unpaid debts, adding to the controversies surrounding his candidacy.