Trump Endorses West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice For Senate

Former President Endorses West Virginia Governor Jim Justice For Senate

Former President Donald Trump has formally endorsed West Virginia Governor Jim Justice for the US Senate race. This endorsement is widely seen as a significant setback for the governor's GOP primary rival, Congressman Alex Mooney.
The endorsement could play an essential role since Trump won West Virginia by almost 40 points in the 2020 elections. So the former president's backing might shift the primary decisively in Justice's favor.
Justice, a once billionaire two-term governor, was initially elected in 2016 as a Democrat but switched to the Republican Party in 2017.
Justice, well-liked in West Virginia, aligns with Trump on issues such as border security, military and veterans, clean coal and energy, economy, inflation, and the 2nd amendment.
Justice's main GOP opposition, Congressman Mooney, despite having Trump's endorsement in a previous House race, has acknowledged that he didn't expect the former president's backing in the senatorial primary.
The winner of the GOP primary between Justice and Mooney will face off against current Senator Joe Manchin if he decides to seek re-election next year. Manchin hasn't clarified his 2024 plans yet and has left the door open for an independent presidential run.