West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has won the state’s Republican U.S. Senate primary election, with the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Justice, who switched allegiance from Democrat to Republican in 2017, promised to follow an “America-First agenda” in the Senate. He more than doubled the vote total of his nearest competitor, U.S. Representative Alex Mooney, according to the Associated Press. Justice is seen as a strong contender in the battle for the Senate seat currently held by moderate Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, who is not seeking reelection.
Trump celebrated Justice’s victory on social media, highlighting the importance of the win in flipping the Senate and delivering on an “America-First agenda.” Justice’s victory, as the Republican governor of a state that overwhelmingly voted for Trump in previous elections, was expected. However, Trump’s endorsement track record for U.S. Senate candidates is not flawless, as seen in the defeats of Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania and Herschel Walker in Georgia in the 2022 elections. Larry Hogan, the former Republican governor of Maryland who is critical of Trump, also won his state’s GOP Senate primary, showing that Trump’s endorsement is not always necessary for Republicans to win.
The winner of West Virginia’s Democratic Senate primary had not been called at the time of publication. Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, endorsed by Manchin, was leading his opponent Zachary Shrewsbury by about 10 points. Prior to Manchin announcing his retirement from the Senate, polling suggested that Justice had a double-digit lead over the incumbent senator. Without Manchin, Democrats are expected to face challenges in maintaining control of the seat, as West Virginia has shifted from being a Democratic stronghold to overwhelmingly Republican in recent decades.
The battle for the Senate seat in West Virginia is crucial in determining which party will control the Senate next year. Justice’s victory with Trump’s endorsement sets the stage for a contentious general election campaign, as Democrats seek to hold onto the seat without Manchin’s influence. Both parties will likely pour resources into the state in an effort to secure the crucial Senate seat. The outcome of the West Virginia Senate race will have national implications on the balance of power in Congress and the ability to advance policy agendas. As the election season progresses, the spotlight will be on West Virginia as one of the key battlegrounds for control of the Senate.
