Jim Justice | |
|---|---|
 Justice
s Senator-elect | |
| Assuming office January 3, 2025 | |
| Succeeding | Joe Manchin |
| 36th Governor of West Virginia | |
| Assumed office January 16, 2017 | |
| Lieutenant | Mitch Carmichael Craig Blair |
| Preceded by | Earl Ray Tomblin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Conley Justice II[1] April 27, 1951 Charleston, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican (before 2015, 2017–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (2015–2017) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence | Governor's Mansion (official)[a] |
| Education | Marshall University (BA, MBA) |
| Website | Government website |
| Nickname | "Big Jim"[2] |
James Conley Justice II (born April 27, 1951) is an American businessman and politician who is a United States senator-elect from West Virginia. A member of the Republican Party, he has served as the 36th governor of West Virginia since 2017. Justice was once a billionaire, but his net worth had declined to $513.3 million as of 2021.[3] He inherited a coal mining business from his father that included 94 companies, including the Greenbrier, a luxury resort and National Historic Landmark in White Sulphur Springs.[4]
In 2015, Justice announced his candidacy for governor in the 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election. Although a registered Republican before running for governor, he ran as a Democrat and defeated the Republican nominee, Bill Cole. Less than seven months after taking office, Justice switched back to the Republican Party after announcing his plans at a rally with U.S. president Donald Trump in the state. In the 2020 gubernatorial race, he was reelected over Democratic challenger Ben Salango.
On April 27, 2023, Justice announced his candidacy for the 2024 United States Senate election in West Virginia, looking to unseat incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin.[5] On November 9, despite having filed paperwork to run for reelection, Manchin announced that he would retire at the end of his term, leaving the seat open.[6] Justice became the Republican nominee on May 14, 2024, after defeating outgoing U.S. Representative Alex Mooney in the primary. He defeated the Democratic nominee, Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, in the general election.[7]
- ^ "State of West Viginia ex rel. James Conley Justice, II, Governor of the State of West Virginia v. Hon. Charles E. King, Jr., Judge; and G. Isaac Sponaugle, III; Case No. 19-1132".
- ^ "Big Jim". June 2023. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ "Jim Justice, II". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
- ^ "A West Virginia dancer performs during the first half at the WVU Coliseum". WV MetroNews. January 14, 2015. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
- ^ Tsirkin, Julie; Bowman, Bridget (April 27, 2023). "Gov. Jim Justice announces West Virginia Senate run, kicking off heated GOP primary". Archived from the original on April 27, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ "West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin retiring: What will it mean for control of the Senate?". November 9, 2023. Archived from the original on November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ "GOP Gov. Jim Justice battles Democrat Glenn Elliott for US Senate seat from West Virginia". AP News. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
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