L TO R: SEN. JOE MANCHIN AND WV GOVERNOR JIM JUSTICE
Jim Justice, the Republican governor of West Virginia, plans to run for Joe Manchin's Senate seat.
Justice is a mining and agriculture magnate and the wealthiest person in the state.
Justice won the 2016 West Virginia gubernatorial election as a Democrat.
- He switched parties the following year and won re-election as a Republican in 2020 with over 63% of the vote.
- A faceoff between Justice and Manchin could imperil the Democrats' slim majority in the Senate.
- After hearing of Justice's candidacy, Manchin said: "I will win any race I enter."
- Manchin said he will announce if he plans to run for a third term later this year.
- According to official records, Manchin's campaign had a $9.5M war chest at the end of 2022.
- He is the only Democrat representing West Virginia in Congress.
Justice will first have to beat Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), who last year announced plans to run for Manchin's seat.
