Jim Justice Maintains Lead in West Virginia Senate Race Against Republican Competition

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice is maintaining a significant lead over his Republican competitors in the Senate race in West Virginia, according to a recent poll. As the 2024 West Virginia Senate primary approaches, Rep. Alex Mooney and Justice are seen as the top contenders to challenge incumbent Senator Joe Manchin.

In a recent poll conducted by West Virginia MetroNews, Justice garnered 58% of the support in the GOP primary for Senate, while Mooney received 26% support. Sixteen percent of Republican voters were undecided on who to support. Justice entered the Senate race in April, potentially setting up a showdown with Manchin, who has yet to announce his reelection campaign amid speculation of a third-party presidential run.

While Justice currently holds a lead over Manchin in a general-election matchup, with 51% of likely voters supporting him compared to Manchin’s 38%, a race between Mooney and Manchin is much closer, with 45% of voters backing Manchin and 41% supporting Mooney.

Mooney, who launched his campaign in November, has criticized Justice for his liberal-leaning policies and is positioning himself as a traditional conservative alternative. Justice, a former Democrat, endorsed former President Donald Trump for the GOP’s 2024 presidential nomination and is likely to receive Trump’s support in the Senate race.

However, Justice has faced legal challenges, with the Justice Department filing a lawsuit against him earlier this year for owing fines related to violations at his coal companies. Despite this, Justice remains a strong contender in the West Virginia Senate race.

As the race heats up, all eyes will be on the candidates as they vie for the opportunity to represent West Virginia in the Senate. Stay tuned for more updates on this closely watched race.