Republican Jim Justice Wins West Virginia Senate Race After Joe Manchin's Retirement

Jim Justice won a US Senate race in West Virginia on Tuesday, flipping the seat to the Republican Party after Joe Manchin chose not to seek reelection.Justice, who boldly predicted victory long before the election, defeated Democrat Glenn Elliott, a lawyer and former mayor of the city of Wheeling who was endorsed by Manchin.The 73-year-old Justice, who is finishing his second term as governor, continued taking advantage of former President Donald Trump’s popularity in ruby red West Virginia. Trump won the presidential race in the state by 42 percentage points in 2016 and 39 points in 2020. Justice was elected governor as a Democrat in 2016, then switched to the GOP seven months after entering office, taking the stage at an event with Trump to make the announcement.A former billionaire, Justice and his family own dozens of businesses, including the posh Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. Justice spent considerable time as governor addressing court challenges that sought late payments and fines for his personal businesses.This will mark the first time since 1958 that both of West Virginia’s U.S. senators are Republicans. The other is Shelley Moore Capito, who was elected to a second term in 2020.(With inputs from AP)