Jim Justice, West Virginia’s 36th Governor, officially entered the race for U.S. Senate amid much fanfare.

Justice announced his decision Thursday evening at Greenbrier Resort – the historic hotel Justice bought in 2009. Justice was joined at the announcement by his wife, First Lady Cathy Justice and his adult children, Jay and Jill Justice as well as Babydog, his English bulldog.

Justice stated, “I am so angry that it took this long to reach a decision. You didn’t deserve to be teased and never have,” Justice added. “I want to announce my candidacy tonight for the United States Senate. I promise to God that I will be able to do the job and make you proud.”

Justice cited his achievements as governor, including record-low unemployment, a billion-dollar surplus in tax revenues, the biggest tax cut ever passed by the state, and four years of consecutive pay increases for teachers and public employees.

Justice also cited expanding school choice, signing a total ban on abortion and expanding concealed carry on college campuses. The National Rifle Association has previously given Justice a grade of A for this move.

Justice stated, “I believe that the work we have done together in this great State was truly meaningful.” We have transformed our state into a diamond in the rough, which many people had missed. Did we do it with commonsense? “We did it because we believed in eachother and worked hard. For the sake of life, we told eachother the truth.”

Justice has said that if voters elect him to Capitol Hill he will continue fighting for the fossil fuel economy of the state, support stronger immigration enforcement on the U.S. Southern border, support the law enforcement, push tax cuts, reduce wasteful federal expenditures, and fight “wokeness” (abusive behavior) in public schools.

How do you perceive our allies in the world? What happened in Afghanistan? What’s happening at the border? What’s happening with energy? Justice said, “It’s all over the place.” We’re going have to take action. “We’re going have to elect someone who’s done it.”

Justice criticized President Joe Biden specifically, including his mental acuity.

“Could anyone possibly have a logic and reason about them that can tell us we’re on the right track? I’m sorry to say it, but I am sad for him. Justice said, “If he was my father, there is no way in hell I could have him as President.” Anyone who shakes hands in the air has serious issues.

Justice, who was first elected governor as a Democratic nominee in 2016, switched to the Republican Party registration in 2017. He announced his switch of party at a Huntington rally alongside former President Donald Trump. He won both the Republican nomination in 2020 and the general elections for a second term of governor. State constitution limits governors’ terms to two.

Justice, a lifelong West Virginian and graduate of the Raleigh County Schools as well as Marshall University, is a West Virginian. In 1976, he joined the family coal mining company and expanded it into agriculture. Justice was named president and CEO after his father Jim Justice Sr. died in 1993. Since then, the Governor’s empire of businesses has grown to include 111 companies including farms, coal companies and resorts.

Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) could be the opponent of the winner of 2024’s Republican primary. The U.S. Senator who has served two terms is a senior U.S. The Senator has not yet announced his reelection intentions. He is waiting until 2023 to make a decision. In a statement released Thursday morning, Manchin clarified that he did not feel threatened by Justice’s entry into the race.

“I’m laser-focused on the job West Virginians voted me to do: lowering healthcare costs and protecting Social Security, Medicare and American energy security, and getting our fiscal house into order. Manchin stated that he would win every race he entered.

Morning Consult’s U.S. Senate quarterly poll conducted from Jan. 1 to March 31 showed Manchin with a 38% job approval rating and a 55% disapproval rating. 8% were unsure or had no opinion. Justice, on the other hand, remains among the five most popular U.S. governors. Justice’s job approval rating is 66%, while only 31% of Americans disapprove.

Comparing the two, Manchin has 49% of respondents that also approve Justice. Justice however, has 86% of respondents that also approve Manchin.

Justice will have two opponents in the Republican primaries in 2024. These include former coal miners Chris Rose and U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.). Mooney announced his U.S. Senate campaign shortly after he was re-elected last November in the new 2nd Congressional District, which covers the northern half the state.

Mooney defeated David McKinley, a six-term congressman from the 1st district of New York State. Mooney was enraged that both Manchin and Justice had endorsed McKinley for the race. Justice has attacked Mooney for his past involvement in Maryland Republican politics. He claims not to know Mooney, despite the fact that they have met and attended events together.

Mooney’s Campaign launched a website, phonyjustice.com, and television ads on Thursday, accusing Justice as being “Liberal Jim Justice.” The campaign also attacked Justice for his past support of tax hikes, the COVID-19 month-long shutdown of non essential businesses in 2020, and vocal support for $1.7 trillion American Rescue Plan Act and $1.3 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

John Findlay, the campaign manager for Mooney, said that Justice was just like Joe Manchin. He supported liberal lock-down mandates that were pro-long, Biden’s reckless expenditure package, and West Virginia’s largest tax increase in history. Alex Mooney, the only conservative candidate in the race who can beat Joe Manchin on November 8, is the only one that has proven themselves.

The race has already become a proxy battle between the mainstream conservative Republicans and their populist wing. Justice has been recruited by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Senate Leadership Fund (the arm of Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnell R-Ky.) and other groups for several months. Justice was announced by U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) – vice chair of Senate Republican Conference and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), both members of the Senate Republican Conference.

“I have been working with Jim for over a decade.”