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Jim Justice, Republican governor of West Virginia announced that he would delay his swearing in to the U.S. Senate, thus avoiding a whirlwind of four governorships in a 10-day period due to coincidental changes in Charleston’s legislative leadership.
In doing so, it leaves the majority of federal Republicans in the Senate briefly at two seats instead of three. Justice alluded to this in statements Thursday afternoonsaying he wants to do the best for the mountaineers.
“My whole thought behind all of this is that continuity of government is essential during transitions. … When I took this job, I took this job to serve the people of West Virginia.”
Justice said he doesn’t expect much to happen between January 3 – when Congress is sworn in – and January 20 – when President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, but that a lot could happen in Charleston.
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Donald Trump shakes hands with West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, who announced during the rally that he would switch parties from Democrat to Republican, during a Make America Great Again rally at the Big Sandy Arena in Huntington, West Virginia. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)
West Virginia is one of seven states that does not have an independently appointed or elected lieutenant governor. In Charleston, on the other hand, it is a statutory title given to the leader of the state Senate.
So, if Justice were to join the U.S. Senate on schedule, current state Senate President Craig Blair would initially assume the role.
However, Blair lost the Republican primary for his seat of Martinsburg in April and is therefore stepping down on January 8 when the new legislature is sworn in.
On January 8, the newly elected leader, Sen. Randy Smith of Tucker County, would take over the governorship until Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey takes office on January 13.
“Between January 3 and when President Trump takes office, some things will happen, but nothing will happen (in the US Congress) until President Trump takes office,” Justice said Thursday.
“I’m in constant contact with President Trump about my feelings about his choices for his appointments, my feelings about where we’re going to go on all kinds of issues like energy and going forward and everything,” he added.
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West Virginia Governor Jim Justice poses at his desk with his bulldog, Babydog. (Fox News Digital/Office of Governor Jim Justice)
“So I don’t think there’s anything there that rises to the level of what could happen here (in my absence).”
Republicans also flipped the Senate by a 53-47 margin comfortable enough that Justice’s absence will still allow for a two-member buffer.
“I don’t think West Virginia should have four governors in 10 days,” he said.
Justice said Thursday that he made the decision after discussing the situation with both the House speaker and the Senate majority leader-designate.
“Senator Thune is really a good man. He’s going to do a great job as a leader and everything. And we had that discussion, and at the end of the day, I think you’ll find that everybody totally understands the complexities and everything. And he totally understands (my decision),” Justice said.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, RW.V., the Justice’s next session counterpart, said she looked forward to serving with him and working together to advance Trump’s agenda.
“I greatly respect Governor Justice’s decision to honor his commitment to complete his term as governor of the state of West Virginia,” he said in a statement.
“I believe that with all my soul,” Justice told reporters. “The people of West Virginia elected me to this office, and they expected me to do good to them always. . . . It has been an honor beyond belief to be their governor.”
Travelers are greeted by a West Virginia welcome sign after crossing the East River Mountain Tunnel on I-77 in Princeton. (Charles Creutz)
A billionaire coal entrepreneur who also owns The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs, Justice was originally elected as a Democrat but switched parties. during a demonstration in 2017 with Trump in his first term in Charleston, and was re-elected as a Republican.
The turn of justice in the GOP and the retirement of Senator Joe Manchin, DW.V.completes a complete turnaround from the blue state that for decades elected Sen. Robert Byrd and Rep. Nick Joe Rahall to a deep red state that Democratic presidential candidates since Hillary Clinton have lost by double digits.
Enduring the wait until January 13, Justice reiterated, will be worth it because he loves Trump “with all my soul.”
“I think the world of his family and everything. And I’ll be there (and) very supportive of what he’s doing. And we’re going to try in every way … to get this nation back on the right track.”
“The people of West Virginia will know exactly where I stand with them.”
