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Jim Justice

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For persons of a similar name, see James Justice (disambiguation).

Jim Justice
Justice in 2023
United States Senator-elect
from West Virginia
Assuming office
January 3, 2025
SucceedingJoe Manchin
36th Governor of West Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 16, 2017
LieutenantMitch Carmichael
Craig Blair
Preceded byEarl Ray Tomblin
Personal details
Born
James Conley Justice II[1]

(1951-04-27) April 27, 1951 (age 73)
Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Political partyRepublican (before 2015, 2017–present)
Other political
affiliations		Democratic (2015–2017)
Spouse
​
(m. 1975)​
Children2
ResidenceGovernor's Mansion (official)[a]
EducationMarshall University (BA, MBA)
WebsiteGovernment 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]

Early life and education

[edit]

James C. Justice II was born in Charleston, West Virginia, the son of James Conley Justice and Edna Ruth (née Perry) Justice. Justice grew up in Raleigh County, West Virginia, graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Beckley in 1969.[8][9] He enrolled at the University of Tennessee on an athletic scholarship for golf, but transferred to Marshall University. At Marshall, he was a two-year captain on the Thundering Herd golf team.[10] He earned his bachelor's degree and Master of Business Administration from Marshall.[11]

Business career

[edit]

After college, Justice went into the family agriculture business.[11] He founded Bluestone Farms in 1977, which now operates 50,000 acres (20,000 ha) of farmland, and is the leading producer of grain on the East Coast of the United States. During that time, he also developed Stoney Brook Plantation, a 15,000-acre hunting and fishing preserve in Monroe County. Justice is a seven-time national corn growing champion.[12] After his father's death in 1993, Justice inherited ownership of Bluestone Industries and Bluestone Coal Corporation. In 2009, he sold some of his coal business to the Russian company Mechel for $568 million. In 2015, after a huge drop in the price of coal led Mechel to close some of the mines, he bought the business back for $5 million.[13][14] Since buying back the mine from Mechel, Justice reopened several of the mines and hired over 200 miners.[15]

Justice's mining companies have been scrutinized for alleged cases of safety violation and unpaid taxes; in 2016, NPR called him the nation's "top mine safety delinquent".[16] Justice allegedly owed millions of dollars to the government in back taxes and unpaid coal mining fees and fines.[17] Two debt-related lawsuits were settled in 2019,[18] and in 2020 mining companies Justice or his family owned agreed to pay $5 million in delinquent safety fines.[19]

According to a 2020 ProPublica investigation, Justice had paid more than $128 million in judgments and settlements over his businesses' unpaid bills.[20][21] In October 2023, a federal court ordered the U.S. Marshal to seize and sell a helicopter the company owned to pay an $8 million judgment granted to a creditor.[22]

Forbes estimated Justice's net worth at $513.3 million as of October 2021.[23][3] Justice serves as the owner or chief executive officer of over 50 companies, including the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, which he bought for $20.5 million in 2009, preventing its bankruptcy.[13]

As of 2014, Justice owned 70 active mines in five states. His charitable activities have included $25 million for the James C. Justice National Scout Camp at Summit Bechtel Reserve, $5 million for Marshall University, and $10 million to the Cleveland Clinic.[24] Justice initiated the annual holiday gift drive "Dream Tree for Kids" that gives away more than $1 million in Christmas gifts to children in need.[25][26]

Before taking office as governor, Justice resigned from all the executive positions he held. He placed his daughter Jill in charge of the Greenbrier and his son Jay in charge of his mining and agriculture businesses. He said he would place all his assets in a blind trust, but that the process would take time because of their complexity.[27][28] During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Justice and his family's businesses received between $11 million and $24 million in aid through the Paycheck Protection Program.[21] His luxury resort, the Greenbrier Hotel Corporation, received a loan of between $5 million and $10 million. The company did not promise to retain any jobs in exchange for the loan, which the Greenbrier would have to repay if it did not use at least 60% of the funds for payroll.[21]

Governor of West Virginia

[edit]

Elections

[edit]
Then-candidate Justice (seated fifth from the left) in Fairmont, West Virginia, in September 2016.

2016

[edit]
Main article: 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election

In 2015, Justice declared his candidacy for governor of West Virginia in the 2016 election as a member of the Democratic Party.[13] He had been a registered member of the Republican Party until changing his registration in February 2015.[29] This was his first time running for political office.[30] Justice was endorsed by the United Mine Workers.[31]

In May 2016, Justice won the Democratic nomination for governor. He defeated Republican nominee Bill Cole in the November general election.[32][33][34]

2020

[edit]
Main article: 2020 West Virginia gubernatorial election

In January 2019, Justice declared his candidacy for reelection.[35] This time, he ran as a Republican, having changed his party registration after a 2017 rally with President Donald Trump. He defeated multiple challengers in the Republican primary.[36]

In the general election campaign, Justice focused on his COVID-19 response, the state's budget surplus, and his work on the substance abuse crisis.[37] Several polls had him leading by a large margin over Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango in the months preceding Election Day.[38] On November 3, 2020, he defeated Salango[37] with over 63% of the vote to Salango's 30%. With his win, he became the first West Virginian Republican gubernatorial candidate to win since Cecil Underwood in 1996 and the first GOP incumbent to win a second term since Arch A. Moore Jr. in 1972.

The United Mine Workers endorsed Salango after having endorsed Justice in 2016, but Justice was endorsed by the businessmen's association West Virginia Coal Association, which said he had "worked to protect the miners, increase coal production, and explore innovative ways to use coal for new products and downstream job opportunities".[39]

Tenure

[edit]
Justice at his inauguration in January 2017.

Justice took office as governor on January 16, 2017. He is known for using colorful metaphors and digs at political opponents.[40][41]

To improve West Virginia's budget situation, he has proposed raising the state's revenue by $450 million, primarily by increasing the consumer sales tax, reinstituting the business and occupation (B & O) tax, and establishing a "rich man's" tax.[42] He also opposed plans to cut health and education spending.[43] On April 13, 2017, while vetoing a budget bill passed by the West Virginia legislature, Justice said the bill was "nothing more than a bunch of political you-know-what" and showed a prop featuring cow manure on a print copy of the bill.[44]

On August 3, 2017, Justice announced that he had rejoined the Republican Party. He made the announcement at a rally hosted by President Donald Trump in Huntington and also confirmed his support for Trump. Justice said he was returning to the GOP because he could not support Trump as a member of the Democratic Party. The announcement came as a surprise to his own staff.[45] This also made Justice the first Republican governor of West Virginia since Cecil Underwood in 2001.

Jim and Cathy Justice with Vice President Mike Pence in March 2017

Even after switching to the Republican Party, Justice initially supported incumbent Democrat Joe Manchin for reelection in the 2018 Senate election in West Virginia.[46] Later in the general election, Justice endorsed Republican Senate candidate Patrick Morrisey.[47] In February 2021, when asked by The New York Times whether he planned to run against Manchin, Justice said, "No, I'm really not . . . [i]f I can continue to do good stuff for West Virginia, I'm going to do it, and then probably fade off into the sunset."[48]

In 2020, Justice signed into law the Critical Infrastructure Protection Act, which created felony penalties for protests targeting oil and gas facilities. The law, which was passed with the support of Dominion Energy, the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association, and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers trade association, was described by its sponsor John Kelly as having been "requested by the natural gas industry".[49]

2024 U.S. Senate election

[edit]
Main article: 2024 United States Senate election in West Virginia

In April 2023, Justice announced his candidacy for the 2024 United States Senate election in West Virginia.[50] Justice defeated U.S. Representative Alex Mooney for the Republican nomination with 61 percent of the vote. The Democratic incumbent, Joe Manchin, did not run for reelection. Justice defeated Glenn Elliott, the Democratic mayor of Wheeling, West Virginia, in the general election.[51][52]

Political positions

[edit]

Justice began his gubernatorial campaign and political career as a conservative Democrat.[53][54] Time identified him as a moderate Democrat.[55] He switched to the Republican Party a few months after taking office and declared his support for President Donald Trump,[56] to whose reelection campaign he contributed $200,000.[57] Since his switch, Justice has been described as a moderate or liberal Republican by his 2024 primary opponent Alex Mooney and by Sam Brodey, writing for The Daily Beast.[58][59]

Economic policy

[edit]
Justice posing for a photo with road workers in March 2017.

Justice campaigned and has governed with support for the coal industry.[60] He does not support raising taxes but has supported increasing teachers' salaries, arguing that increased state revenue will pay for the increased budget spending.[61] In 2017, Justice said that he opposed budget cuts and supported raising sales taxes.[62] The libertarian Cato Institute gave Justice an "F" grade based on their positions, but Justice voiced his disagreement with the rating.[63] Before Justice switched from a Democrat to a Republican, Senate President Mitch Carmichael called him "more Republican in his philosophies. Where he has gotten away from that a little bit is his tax-and-spend policies."[64]

In February 2021, Justice urged Senator Joe Manchin to vote for the $1.9 trillion stimulus package proposed by President Joe Biden, warning against being "fiscally responsible" and adding, "I don't really know exactly what the thinking could possibly be there. I mean, we got people that are really hurting."[48][65]

Of proposals to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, Justice said, "it's really, really hard to say one size fits all" nationwide. He added, "to be able to make it on 7 or 8 dollars an hour, that's really, really tough", while also expressing concern that too high a minimum wage could lead to unemployment.[66]

Abortion

[edit]

Justice had said that he does not support abortion, but that the Supreme Court had decided the issue.[67] Later, he attended a rally supporting Amendment 1, a state constitutional amendment banning abortion once Roe v. Wade was overturned.[68][69] In September 2022, after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Justice signed into law a bill banning abortion at any stage of pregnancy, with exceptions for medical emergencies and victims of rape or incest.[70]

Gun control

[edit]

Justice supports gun ownership and limited gun laws. In 2018, he signed into a law a bill allowing gun owners to keep their guns locked in vehicles on their employers' property, a bill the National Rifle Association of America (NRA) supported.[71] He also signed a bill legalizing hunting on Sundays on private land.[72] On March 1, 2023, Justice signed into law a bill legalizing campus carry for those with concealed carry permits.[73]

Healthcare

[edit]
Justice speaks with First Lady Melania Trump at an opioids roundtable in Huntington.

Justice supports West Virginia's Medicaid expansion, which was implemented by the previous governor under the Affordable Care Act.[74] Justice opposed the American Health Care Act, a GOP House bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, saying that the bill "would cripple [West Virginia] beyond belief."[75]

LGBTQ rights

[edit]

Justice has said that he respects the Supreme Court's decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, and that it is settled law.[76] In 2017, he opposed a bill that would have allowed businesses to refuse service to LGBTQ customers.[77] In 2023, Justice signed legislation prohibiting gender-affirming care for minors.[78] In 2024, Justice said he would need to review and "see the bill" before committing to sign the Fairness Act, legislation that would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment and customer service industries, but added, "if you're lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, you're welcome to come to West Virginia" and participate in the state's economy.[79] Justice had said he would support similar legislation, also called the Fairness Act, in 2020.[80]

Environmental policy

[edit]

According to the Charleston Gazette–Mail, Justice has equivocated on the scientific consensus on global warming. In a 2016 interview with the paper, he said: "There's documentation that would give one concern, and I don't think you should ignore that. At the same time, I think there's an awful lot of research that still should be done . . . I surely wouldn't sit here and say I am a believer in global warming, but I wouldn't sit here and say that I am not concerned."[12]

At the beginning of his second term as governor, Justice said he was a believer in alternative energy, pointing to his welcoming of Clearway Energy Group to begin construction of a wind farm, which will increase state wind power by 15%.[48][81] But he added, "it is frivolous for us to think that today our nation can go forward without coal or without gas. There will be a day we transition away from fossil fuels. But I frankly don't believe that it is now."[48]

COVID-19 vaccine distribution

[edit]
See also: COVID-19 pandemic in West Virginia § Government responses

Despite being one of the poorest states in the nation, West Virginia was, early on, second only to Alaska in vaccine distribution for COVID-19. Since then, it has lagged behind the rest of the nation, ranking 40th in percentage of the population covered as of May 6, 2020.[82][83] Justice encouraged West Virginians to get vaccinated with the slogan "Do It for Babydog", referring to his dog.[84]

Personal life

[edit]
Jim Justice with Babydog, his pet bulldog that often accompanies him

Justice met his wife, Cathy Justice (née Comer) in high school.[85] They have two children.[11][86] Justice and his wife are members of First Baptist Church in Beckley, a congregation of the American Baptist Churches USA.[8][87][88] He is 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall.[89] Justice is a lifelong fan of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League, and spent $30 million to develop a training camp for the team to use in 2014 at the Greenbrier.[13][23] Until 2019, he hosted the Greenbrier Classic, a PGA Tour event, at the Greenbrier annually.[13]

Justice lives in Lewisburg, West Virginia. He was sued about his residency by former state house assistant minority whip Isaac Sponaugle on the basis that Justice did not live in the West Virginia Governor's Mansion in Charleston. The state constitution requires the governor to "reside at the seat of government", Charleston. The lawsuit was eventually put before the West Virginia State Supreme Court, which denied a motion for a writ of prohibition. Chief Justice Evan Jenkins defined "reside" in terms of statewide officeholders. On March 2, Justice resolved the lawsuit, agreeing to reside in Charleston and paying Sponaugle's legal fees.[90]

Justice owns a female English bulldog named Babydog who has often appeared alongside him at public engagements, including at the 2024 Republican National Convention.[91]

Youth sports

[edit]

Since 1992, Justice has been president of Beckley Little League.[92]

Justice has been the girls' basketball coach at Greenbrier East High School in Fairlea, West Virginia, since 2003, winning the state championship in 2012. In 2011, he also became the head coach of the boys' basketball teams, a position from which he stepped down in September 2017.[93] He was the only coach at the AAA level (the state's largest classification) to coach both the girls' and boys' basketball teams. Justice said that though he would put his business interests in a blind trust upon becoming governor, he would still coach basketball.[94][95] He coached the team through his two terms as governor and is considering continuing to coach if he is elected to the U.S. Senate.[96]

Electoral history

[edit]
2016 West Virginia Democratic gubernatorial primary[97]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Justice 132,704 51.37%
Democratic Booth Goodwin 65,416 25.32%
Democratic Jeff Kessler 60,230 23.31%
Total votes 258,350 100.00%
2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election[98]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jim Justice 350,408 49.09%
Republican Bill Cole 301,987 42.30%
Mountain Charlotte Pritt 42,068 5.89%
Libertarian David Moran 15,354 2.15%
Constitution Phil Hudok 4,041 0.57%
Total votes 713,858 100.00%
Democratic hold
2020 West Virginia Republican gubernatorial primary[99]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Justice (incumbent) 127,445 63.0%
Republican Woody Thrasher 37,019 18.3%
Republican Michael Folk 24,896 12.3%
Republican Doug Six 4,231 2.1%
Republican Brooke Lunsford 3,675 1.8%
Republican Shelly Jean Fitzhugh 2,560 1.3%
Republican Chuck Sheedy 2,415 1.2%
Total votes 202,241 100.0%
2020 West Virginia gubernatorial election[100][101]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jim Justice (incumbent) 497,944 63.49%
Democratic Ben Salango 237,024 30.22%
Libertarian Erika Kolenich 22,527 2.87%
Independent S. Marshall Wilson (write-in) 15,120 1.93%
Mountain Daniel Lutz 11,309 1.44%
Write-in 363 0.05%
Total votes 784,287 100.00%
Republican hold

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Justice resides in Lewisburg, West Virginia and does not live in the official residence.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "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".
  2. ^ "Big Jim". June 2023. Archived from the original on June 19, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Jim Justice, II". Forbes. Archived from the original on September 26, 2020. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "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.
  7. ^ "GOP Gov. Jim Justice battles Democrat Glenn Elliott for US Senate seat from West Virginia". AP News. November 5, 2024. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "About the Governor and First Lady". 2021. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021.
  9. ^ "Meet Jim Justice | Justice for WV | Jim Justice for Governor". Justice for WV. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ Houvouras, Jack (Winter 2010). "HQ&A with Jim Justice". Huntington Quarterly. Huntington, WV: HQ Publishing. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2016.
  11. ^ a b c Tucker, Neely (March 6, 2011). "W.Va. billionaire Jim Justice's mission to restore the Greenbrier resort". Washington Post. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2015.
  12. ^ a b Gutman, David (November 4, 2015). "Justice stresses big ideas over specifics in campaign". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Archived from the original on September 4, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  13. ^ a b c d e Eyre, Eric (May 11, 2015). "Greenbrier owner Jim Justice enters governor's race". The Charleston Gazette. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  14. ^ Barrett, Paul (January 10, 2017). "Can West Virginia's New Governor Save Coal Country?". Bloomberg.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  15. ^ "Justice to put 200 miners back to work". Times West Virginian. June 16, 2015. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  16. ^ Berkes, Howard (October 7, 2016). "Billionaire Gubernatorial Candidate Owes $15 Million In Taxes And Fines". NPR.org. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  17. ^ Berkes, Howard (October 7, 2016). "Billionaire Gubernatorial Candidate Owes $15 Million In Taxes And Fines". NPR. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  18. ^ "Justice settles millions in out-of-state debt claims". WV MetroNews. July 19, 2019. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  19. ^ "Companies Tied To W.Va. Governor To Pay $5 Million In Mining Violations". NPR. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  20. ^ Jim, Big (May 27, 2020). "The Billionaire Governor Who's Been Sued Dozens of Times for Millions in Unpaid Bills". ProPublica. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  21. ^ a b c Jim, Big (July 6, 2020). "Companies Owned by This Billionaire Governor Received up to $24 Million in Bailout Loans". ProPublica. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  22. ^ Robertson, Campbell (October 15, 2023). "'Big Jim' and Babydog Go to Washington?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 11, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  23. ^ a b Corbett, Jim (July 24, 2014). "Billionaire Jim Justice gives Saints lavish training camp". USA Today. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  24. ^ Berkes, Howard; Boiko-Weyrauch, Anna; Benincasa, Robert (November 15, 2014). "Billionaire Spent Millions In Charity, But Avoided Mine Fines". NPR. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  25. ^ "Dream Tree for Kids distributes $1 million worth of gifts". Beckley Register-Herald. December 15, 2015. Archived from the original on September 25, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  26. ^ "Dream Tree for Kids". The Greenbriar Resort. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  27. ^ "Billionaire Gov. Jim Justice says he's pursuing blind trust; Commerce Secretary Thrasher files one". WV MetroNews. January 30, 2017. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  28. ^ Kabler, Phil (March 2, 2017). "Some of Justice's companies put in blind trust". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  29. ^ Maher, Kris (May 12, 2015). "Jim Justice, West Virginia Billionaire, Launches Campaign for Governor". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on December 14, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
  30. ^ Jenkins, Jeff (May 11, 2015). "WV MetroNews – Jim Justice enters politics, announces 2016 run for governor". Wvmetronews.com. Archived from the original on July 25, 2015. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  31. ^ "UMWA endorses Jim Justice for governor". WV MetroNews. November 12, 2015. Archived from the original on January 13, 2016. Retrieved January 12, 2016.
  32. ^ Raby, John (May 10, 2015). "Jim Justice wins Democratic nomination for West Virginia gov". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved May 10, 2016.[permanent dead link]
  33. ^ "Jim Justice wins WV gubernatorial race". Archived from the original on November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 12, 2016.
  34. ^ "West Virginia Governor Results: Jim Justice Wins". The New York Times. August 1, 2017. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  35. ^ writer, Jake Zuckerman Staff (January 7, 2019). "Gov. Jim Justice announces re-election bid". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  36. ^ Nam, Rafael (June 9, 2020). "West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice wins GOP gubernatorial primary". TheHill. Archived from the original on December 1, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  37. ^ a b "Justice Wins Re-Election". theintelligencer.net. Archived from the original on November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  38. ^ "RealClearPolitics – Election 2020 – West Virginia Governor – Justice vs. Salango". www.realclearpolitics.com. Archived from the original on November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  39. ^ McElhinny, Brad (August 19, 2020). "Justice gets endorsement from W.Va. Coal Association after Salango gets UMW". West Virginia MetroNews. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  40. ^ Jenkins, Jeff (March 6, 2017). "From 'knuckleheads' to 'blockheads' Justice still critical of legislature over budget". MetroNews. Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  41. ^ McElhinny, Brad (February 24, 2017). "Governor Justice calls himself a grizzly and Senate majority leader a poodle". MetroNews. Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  42. ^ Jenkins, Jeff (April 13, 2017). "Justice vetoes budget by unveiling bull manure". West Virginia MetroNews Network. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  43. ^ Bidgood, Jess (May 1, 2017). "West Virginia's Governor, an 'Unusual Democrat,' Fights a G.O.P. Tide". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  44. ^ Stevenson, Peter W. (April 14, 2017). "The governor of West Virginia brought a plate of B.S. to the statehouse, literally". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  45. ^ Kabler, Phil (August 3, 2017). "WV Gov. Justice switching political parties, returning to GOP". Charleston Gazette. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  46. ^ "WV MetroNews – Governor Justice, now Republican, tells Republicans he supports Manchin's Senate bid". wvmetronews.com. September 20, 2017. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
    "GOP Gov. Jim Justice backs Democrat Joe Manchin for Senate". September 20, 2017. Archived from the original on March 3, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  47. ^ "Manchin and Justice exchange fire – again – over W.Va. road conditions". WV MetroNews. March 14, 2019. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  48. ^ a b c d Gabriel, Trip (February 3, 2021). "Jim Justice, a G.O.P. Governor, on Why Biden Needs to 'Go Big' on Covid Aid". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  49. ^ Brown, Alleen (June 7, 2020). "A Powerful Petrochemical Lobbying Group Advanced Anti-Protest Legislation in the Midst of the Pandemic". The Intercept. Archived from the original on April 1, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  50. ^ "West Virginia Gov. Justice running for Manchin's Senate seat". Associated Press News. April 28, 2023. Archived from the original on November 7, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
  51. ^ Jackson, Herb (May 14, 2024). "Justice tops Mooney in West Virginia Senate primary". Roll Call.
  52. ^ "AP Race Call: Republican Jim Justice wins election to U.S. Senate from West Virginia". Associated Press. November 5, 2024.
  53. ^ Brown, Andrew. "Jim Justice wins WV gubernatorial race". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  54. ^ "Is West Virginia Holding America's Weirdest Election?". POLITICO Magazine. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  55. ^ "West Virginia Governor Switches Parties at Trump Rally". Time. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  56. ^ Jedeur-Palmgren, Max. "Billionaire and WV Governor Jim Justice Switches To Republican at Trump Event". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  57. ^ "Here Are The Billionaires Who Donated To Donald Trump's 2020 Presidential Campaign". Forbes. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
  58. ^ Brodey, Sam (May 3, 2023). "Jim Justice is Trying to be the GOP's Version of Joe Manchin". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  59. ^ "As Justice gears up for Senate run, Republican rival Mooney calls him a 'RINO' and says he can beat him". April 24, 2023. Archived from the original on October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  60. ^ "Trump: Praise for Justice and coal". POLITICO. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  61. ^ "WV MetroNews – New spending proposals and a tax cut on Governor Justice's plate this year". wvmetronews.com. January 11, 2018. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  62. ^ "WV MetroNews – Governor Justice highlights improving state revenue". wvmetronews.com. May 4, 2018. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  63. ^ writer, Phil Kabler Staff. "Justice dismisses 'F' on Cato Institute report card on fiscal policy". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Archived from the original on October 10, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  64. ^ Bidgood, Jess (May 1, 2017). "West Virginia's Governor, an 'Unusual Democrat,' Fights a G.O.P. Tide". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  65. ^ Brewster, Jack (February 1, 2021). "Republican Gov. Jim Justice Adds Pressure On Manchin To Pass Stimulus: Not The Time To Be 'Fiscally Responsible'". Forbes. Archived from the original on April 21, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  66. ^ "Republican WVa Gov. Justice: 'Go big or go home' on stimulus". AP NEWS. May 14, 2021. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  67. ^ "Jim Justice on Abortion". www.ontheissues.org. Archived from the original on November 17, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  68. ^ "West Virginians to vote on amendment to constitution concerning abortion". WV News. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  69. ^ writer, Lori Kersey Staff. "Anti-abortion proponents rally for Amendment 1". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  70. ^ "West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice signs abortion ban into law". POLITICO. September 16, 2022. Archived from the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  71. ^ MetroNews, The Associated Press, Bradford Arick, WSAZ News Staff. "UPDATE: W.Va. Gov. Justice signs 'parked guns' legislation". Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  72. ^ JOURNAL, Rusty Marks THE STATE. "Gov. Justice approves several gun-related bills". WV News. Archived from the original on November 21, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  73. ^ "West Virginia governor signs campus carry gun bill". Associated Press. March 2023. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
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  76. ^ Gutman, David. "Justice weighs in on same-sex marriage decision". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Archived from the original on August 2, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
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  93. ^ Hess, Paul. "Gov. Justice will no longer coach high school boys basketball". Archived from the original on July 17, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  94. ^ "West Virginia gov-elect plans to keep coaching basketball". Associated Press. December 23, 2016. Archived from the original on July 31, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  95. ^ Bogage, Jacob. "W.Va. governor says he 'never dreamed' calling girls' basketball team 'thugs' would cause offense". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
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  100. ^ "November 3, 2020 General Election – Official Results". West Virginia State – Clarity Elections. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  101. ^ "Election Night Reporting". results.enr.clarityelections.com. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020..
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jim Justice.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of West Virginia
2016 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Republican nominee for Governor of West Virginia
2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Patrick Morrisey
 Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from West Virginia
(Class 1)
2024 		Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by
Earl Ray Tomblin
 Governor of West Virginia
2017–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Vice President Order of precedence of the United States
Within West Virginia 		Succeeded by
Mayor of city in which event is held
Succeeded by
Otherwise Mike Johnson
as Speaker of the House
Preceded byas Governor of Kansas Order of precedence of the United States
Outside West Virginia 		Succeeded byas Governor of Nevada
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