‘I don’t assume that West Virginia must have 4 governors in 10 days,’ Justice says.
Sen.-elect Gov. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) mentioned Thursday that he’ll delay his swearing in as West Virginia’s junior senator to serve out the rest of his time in workplace as governor of the state.
Justice, who’s changing outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), mentioned he will probably be sworn in on Jan. 13 as a substitute of Jan. 3, when the brand new Congress is sworn into workplace. Jan. 13 can be when Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey, a Republican who’s at present the state’s lawyer basic, will take workplace.
Throughout that 10-day time interval, it’s unlikely that there will probably be any choices made within the Senate which can be “going to rise to the extent of what might occur” in West Virginia, Justice mentioned.
“I don’t assume that West Virginia must have 4 governors in 10 days,” he added, referring to the state having a number of performing governors if Justice was sworn in as a senator on Jan. 3.
In mid-November, Thune was capable of develop into Republican majority chief after beating out Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) in a management race, months after longtime Senate Republican Chief Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) mentioned he was stepping down.
Republicans are slated to have a 53–47 majority when the brand new Congress convenes. The higher chamber won’t make any choices on Trump’s nominees for Cupboard roles and different positions in his administration till after he’s sworn into workplace on Jan. 20.
Justice took benefit of Trump’s recognition in deep purple West Virginia. Trump gained the presidential race within the state by 42 share factors in 2016, 39 factors in 2020, and greater than 51 % in 2024.
Justice was elected as West Virginia’s governor as a Democrat in 2016 earlier than he switched to the GOP seven months after getting into workplace, taking the stage at an occasion with Trump to make the announcement.
When he’s sworn in as senator, it’s going to mark the primary time since 1958 that each of West Virginia’s U.S. senators are Republicans. The opposite is Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, who was elected to a second time period in 2020.
In an announcement to a number of information retailers on Thursday, Capito mentioned she respects Justice’s transfer to finish his second time period as West Virginia’s governor.
“I’m trying ahead to serving with Senator Justice as there’s a lot to do to advance President Trump’s agenda on behalf of all West Virginians,” she mentioned.
The Related Press contributed to this report.