Photo by Steven Allen Adams Gov. Jim Justice, joined by his English bulldog Babydog, officially launches his U.S. Senate campaign Thursday at the Greenbrier Resort.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Jim Justice, West Virginia’s 36th Governor, officially threw his hat in the ring for U.S. Senate to much fanfare.

Justice made his announcement Thursday evening at the Greenbrier Resort, the historic hotel Justice purchased in 2009. Justice was joined by First Lady Cathy Justice, his adult children Jay and Dr. Jill Justice, as well as his English bulldog Babydog.

“I hate like crazy it has taken this long to make a decision because, really and truly, you didn’t deserve being teased and you never have deserved being teased,” Justice said. “With all of that, I want to tell you tonight I’m officially announcing my candidacy for the United States Senate, and I will absolutely promise you to God above that I will do the job, and I will do a job that will make you proud.”

Speaking about his record as governor over the nearly seven years, Justice pointed to record low unemployment numbers, billion-dollar tax revenue surpluses, passing the largest tax cut in recent state history, and four straight years of pay raises for public employees and teachers.

Justice also pointed to expanding school choice options; signing a new ban on abortion; and expanding concealed carry of firearms on college campuses, a move supported by the National Rifle Association that has given Justice an A rating in the past; and his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I truly believe that what we’ve done in this great state together was really meaningful,” Justice said. “We have turned our state from a state that a lot of people looked at the wrong way to big that diamond in the rough that a lot of people missed. We did it with common sense, did we not? We did it because we worked hard and believed in each other and for God’s sake of living we told each other the truth.”

If voters choose him to go to Capitol Hill, Justice said he will continue to fight for the state’s fossil fuel economy, support stronger enforcement of immigration on the U.S. southern border, support law enforcement, push for tax cuts, cut wasteful federal spending, and battle “wokeness” in public schools.

“How in the world do you think we’re perceived by our allies? Look what happened in Afghanistan. Look what’s going on at the border. Look what’s going on with energy. It’s just all over the park,” Justice said. “We’re going to have to do something about it. We’re going to have to elect somebody that’s done it.”

Justice leveled specific criticism at President Joe Biden, including swiping at his perceived mental acuity.

“Could there possibly be anybody who has a reason and logic about them who can say we’re going on the right path? I hate to say this, but I feel sad for him. If he were my dad, I would say there’s no way on Earth I could continue on with having him as our President,” Justice said. “Anyone who is shaking hands to air has real issues.”

First elected as governor in 2016 as the Democratic nominee, Justice switched his registration to the Republican Party in 2017, announcing his party switch at a Huntington rally with former president Donald Trump. He easily won the Republican nomination and the general election in 2020 for a second term as governor. The state constitution limits governors to two terms.

A life-long West Virginian, Justice is a graduate of Raleigh County Schools and Marshall University. He joined his family’s coal mining business in 1976, expanding it into agriculture. Justice became president and CEO of the family businesses in 1993 after the death of his father, Jim Justice Sr. The Governor’s business empire has since grown to 111 different companies, including coal companies, farms, resorts, and more.

The winner of the 2024 Republican primary could face U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. The two-term senior U.S. Senator has yet to announce his re-election intentions, choosing to push off a decision until the end of 2023. But in a statement Thursday morning, Manchin made it clear he was not threatened by Justice entering the race.

“I am laser-focused on doing the job West Virginians elected me to do — lowering healthcare costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, shoring up American energy security and getting our fiscal house in order. But make no mistake, I will win any race I enter,” Manchin said.

According to Morning Consult’s quarterly U.S. Senate poll conducted between Jan. 1 and March 31, Manchin’s job approval numbers rating was 38% and his disapproval rating was 55% with 8% unsure or having no opinion. By comparison, Justice remains in the top five of the most popular governors in the U.S. Justice has a 66% job approval rating, with only 31% disapproving.

When comparing the two, Manchin is popular with 49% of respondents who also approve of Justice, but Justice is popular with 86% of respondents who also approve of Manchin.

Justice will face two opponents in the Republican primary in 2024, including former coal miner Chris Rose and U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va. Mooney announced his U.S. Senate candidacy shortly after winning re-election last November to the new 2nd Congressional District covering the northern half of the state.

Mooney defeated six-term 1st District Congressman David McKinley in the 2022 Republican primary. Both Manchin and Justice endorsed McKinley in that race, raising the ire of Mooney. Justice has attacked Mooney’s past ties to Maryland Republican politics and claims to not know Mooney despite several meetings and events where the two have appeared together.

Mooney’s campaign launched a website — phonyjustice.com – and TV ads Thursday accusing Justice of being “Liberal Jim Justice,” attacking Justice for past support of tax increases, the month-long COVID-19 shutdown of non-essential businesses in 2020, vocal support for the $1.7 trillion American Rescue Plan Act and the $1.3 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and statements calling for limiting the sale of certain “assault” firearms for those under the age of 21.

“Jim Justice is just another Joe Manchin,” said John Findlay, campaign manager for Mooney. “He supported pro-longed liberal lock-down mandates, Biden’s reckless spending package, and the largest tax hike in West Virginia’s history. While we welcome Jim Justice’s decision to run for U.S. Senate, Alex Mooney is the only proven conservative in this race and the only candidate that will beat Joe Manchin next November.”

The race is already becoming a proxy fight between mainstream conservative Republicans and the more populist conservative wing. The National Republican Senatorial Committee and the Senate Leadership Fund — the arm of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. — have been recruiting Justice for months. Both U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. — the vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference — and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. were in attendance at Justice’s announcement.

“I’ve been able to work with Jim for governor for six years when I’ve been up in the Senate…We’ve really, I think, made a good pair and we’re really going to make a good pair up in Washington,” Capito said. “This is about taking back the majority in the United States Senate. This is about changing the agenda in Washington … Jim is going to be a big part of that and a great partner.”

“We need help in Washington. We need a winner. We need someone who can win a general election’ a conservative who can move the ball forward in Washington D.C.,” Graham said. “Jim Justice knows how to deliver for the people he represents. He’s done it in your state…We need his voice in Washington.”

Mooney has received the endorsements of U.S. Senators Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rand Paul, R-Ky. He has also been endorsed by the Conservative Political Action Conference, the Senate Conservatives Fund created by former South Carolina U.S. Senator and former Heritage Foundation president Jim DeMint, and the Club for Growth, which has already pledged $10 million for Mooney, whom it supported for Congress in 2022.