Justice

CHARLESTON — With political announcements for the 2024 federal elections flying before the 2022 midterm elections have been certified, Gov. Justice said he is still thinking about a run for U.S. Senate but has yet to make a concrete decision.

Justice was asked about a possible U.S. Senate run during Tuesday’s virtual briefing with reporters from the Capitol.

“From the standpoint of attention on my mind, I’m absolutely thinking really hard about it and very seriously considering running for Senate,” Justice said. “I have not made a final decision yet, but I promise you, regardless of whatever I do, I’ll be your governor for the next two years. I’m not just going to sit around and hang out. I don’t believe in that.”

Justice was asked about a possible Senate run in September by The Intelligencer when he was in Wheeling campaigning against Amendment 2, a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that would have allowed the West Virginia Legislature to eliminate six categories of tangible personal property taxes. Justice told reporter Joselyn King at the time that he was a maybe.

“I don’t really know what I’m going to do right yet,” Justice said back in September. “Maybe you’ll see me … you know … sticking around and running for national office. But right now, I don’t know.”

“I guess it’s possible,” he continued. “Who knows?”

Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., will be up for re-election in 2024 for a third six-year term to the U.S. Senate after winning a special election in 2010 to succeed the late Democratic Sen. Robert C. Byrd who died in office.

U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., fresh off of a victory in the newly redrawn northern 2nd Congressional District in the Nov. 8 general election, announced last week he would seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate to challenge Manchin. Republican State Treasurer Riley Moore announced Monday his intentions to run for the 2nd District seat that Mooney just won. 

Mooney endorsed Moore as his successor on Monday and Moore endorsed Mooney for Senate Tuesday.

“Alex is a strong, principled conservative we need fighting for us in D.C.,” Moore said. “His record on defending our border, protecting life, and our God-given rights makes him stand out from the crowd. I know he’ll beat Joe Manchin.”

Justice said he would not be pressured to make a decision based on other candidates.

“They’re not affecting my thinking at all,” Justice said. “As far as what others do, I wish them the best in every way. I truly believe that the people of the great State of West Virginia are with me in whatever decision I make. I’m sure they’ll be right with me, as they know without any question I’ll be right with them.”

Justice ran for Governor in 2016 as a Democrat, defeating former Republican state Senate President Bill Cole. Justice switched to the Republican Party in 2017 at the behest of Donald Trump. Justice easily won the 2020 Republican primary and defeated his Democratic opponent, Kanawha County Commissioner Ben Salango.

While things have calmed down over the last couple of years, Justice and Manchin have butted heads before. Manchin’s political machine supported Justice’s Democratic campaign for governor, but after his switch to Republican many of those same supporters lost jobs in the Justice administration, including Manchin’s wife Gayle Manchin, who served as a cabinet secretary for the formerly named Department of Education and the Arts.

Manchin, who served for almost two terms as governor, nearly ran for governor again in 2020, deciding to stay in the Senate and back Salango. Both Justice and Manchin have clashed over broadband, road construction and a federal COVID-19 funding provision that prohibits funding from being used to offset reductions in state tax rates.

According to the national polling firm Morning Consult, Justice is the sixth most popular governor in the nation with an approval rating of 65% and only 29% of respondents disapprove of the governor. Justice was able to leverage his popularity to rally voters to reject Amendment 2, making nearly 40 stops around the state encouraging voters to oppose the constitutional amendment that failed 45% to 65%.

“I’ll be your governor. I’ll work just as hard as I did on Amendment 2 and on and on and on,” Justice said. “There’s A lot of thinking, planning, and discussion ongoing with my family and lots of folks. Serious, serious consideration. You’ll know real soon.”