West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has won the state’s Republican US Senate primary, positioning him as the favorite to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in the deep-red state. Justice emerged victorious in a crowded GOP primary that included US Rep. Alex Mooney, a member of the hard-line House Freedom Caucus. The West Virginia Senate seat has been viewed as a key battleground that could determine GOP hopes of winning the Senate in November.
The decision by Manchin to retire dealt a blow to Democrats’ hopes of maintaining their narrow majority in the chamber. The party is also defending seats in other Republican-leaning states such as Montana and Ohio, as well as in swing states like Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. National Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, rallied behind Justice in the primary campaign, despite some bitter exchanges between Justice and Mooney in the final weeks of the contest.
Mooney launched aggressive attacks against Justice, accusing him of supporting “pro-transgender legislation” and implementing the “biggest tax hike in West Virginia history.” In response, Justice, a successful businessman with interests in coal mining and the hospitality industry, defended himself with ads featuring testimonials from West Virginia coal miners. He also highlighted his endorsement from Trump and criticized opponents who sought to align themselves with the former President.
Despite winning as a Democrat in 2016 and Manchin’s reelection in 2018, West Virginia has become a heavily Republican state, with Trump winning over 68% of the vote in both the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. Manchin remains the only Democrat to hold nonjudicial statewide office in the state. However, Justice, who switched his party affiliation to Republican early in his first term as governor, faces legal challenges related to massive debts owed by his companies.
The West Virginia Senate race is crucial for both parties, with Republicans hoping to flip the seat as part of their strategy to win control of the Senate. Justice’s victory in the Republican primary sets the stage for a competitive general election campaign against the winner of the three-way Democratic primary. The outcome of the race will be closely watched as a barometer for the political landscape in West Virginia and the broader battle for control of Congress. As the lone Democrat in statewide office, Manchin’s retirement adds to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Democratic Party in the state.
