OAN Staff Sophia Flores and Brooke Mallory
4:35 PM – Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Jim Justice has flipped West Virginia red to win the Mountain State’s Senate race.
Democrat Glenn Elliott faced off against Republican challenger Jim Justice in West Virginia’s Senate race.
West Virginia was a closely watched swing state race, with the two candidates competing to fill the seat previously held by Joe Manchin. Manchin has held the Senate seat since 2010.
The Democrat in the race, Elliott, has served as the Mayor of Wheeling for the past seven years He decided to run for the Senate after he worked with Senator Robert Byrd in the late 1990’s.
Some of the issues that he would focus on according to his website would be healthcare for all, protecting freedom, affordable housing solutions and ensuring reproductive rights for all women.
An unprecedented period of public and private investments in downtown revitalization, new housing construction, parks and recreation enhancements, strategic infrastructure initiatives, and long-overdue new headquarters for the city’s police and fire departments has been brought about by the City of Wheeling under his leadership, according to his campaign website.
Because of his work, Wheeling’s economy has become one of West Virginia’s fastest-growing. In 2022, he was named “Mayor of the Year” by the West Virginia Municipal League, and in 2023, he was given the James Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award, the website continued.
Republican Jim Justice is an American businessman who has served as the governor of West Virginia since 2017.
Some of the issues highlighted on his website that are important to him include education, the Second Amendment, being pro-life, tackling inflation, uplifting the economy, and job creation.
Justice and his adorable English Bulldog, Babydog, have campaigned for 45th President Donald Trump and his running mate JD Vance in multiple states. His Senate run is endorsed by the former president.
“At the heart of Jim Justice’s campaign team is Babydog, the beloved English bulldog. Babydog symbolizes warmth, love, and connection, embodying the shared values that drive Jim’s mission to serve West Virginia,” he stated.
As the governor of West Virginia and a successful businessman, Justice has a thorough understanding of economic expansion and employment development.
“Governor Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice prioritize giving back to West Virginia’s youth, exemplified by their annual distribution of $1 million in gifts to children in need,” his campaign website states.
Due to his proficiency in these fields, he is able to successfully promote an atmosphere that is conducive to business, draw in investments, and generate possibilities that propel the state’s and its citizens’ prosperity.
“Big Jim Justice, the Governor of the Great State of West Virginia (I LOVE WEST VIRGINIA!), is BIG in every way, but especially in his wonderful HEART! Strong on the Border, our Great Military & Vets, CLEAN COAL & Energy Dominance, the Economy, Stopping Inflation, & Protecting our 2nd Amendment, Big Jim will be a Great UNITED STATES SENATOR, and has my Complete & Total Endorsement. HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!!!” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.
During his time in West Virginia politics, Justice has signed a measure into law prohibiting nearly all abortions in the state, except in certain medical situations and in cases of rape and incest.
All results are based on information provided by Reuters.
