Inside the Alleged Attendance Issues of Jim Justice — A Potential GOP Senate Problem
The Senate GOP is poised to secure a slim majority in the upcoming year, but the potential absence of a frequently absent Republican could pose a significant risk.
TroibNews 
Jim Justice is poised to become West Virginia’s next senator, but questions remain about his commitment to attending sessions regularly.
According to interviews with nearly a dozen individuals involved in West Virginia politics from both parties, the current governor is seldom present at the state capitol in Charleston. Many expressed difficulty reaching him when seeking clarity on his policy positions, contrasting sharply with the accessibility of past governors and officials.
Concerns have been raised among state political insiders about Justice’s ability to manage the demands of commuting regularly between West Virginia and Washington, which could pose challenges for Senate Republicans. “If Democrats keep the Senate, Republicans take it, the majority is going to be slim regardless,” noted Republican state Del. Elias Coop-Gonzalez. “That means that a lot of those votes are going to really depend on him having to be there every single time. And my personal opinion is I don't really have a lot of faith that he will be there for that."
The Republican party appears well-positioned to potentially gain control of the Senate next year, though they may only achieve a narrow majority, possibly by just one vote. A senator with an inconsistent attendance record could hinder the party’s effectiveness, especially regarding votes on nominees.
“There’s an old saying that 80 percent of success in life is showing up, and Jim Justice rarely shows up,” stated Democratic state Del. Mike Pushkin. “I don't think anybody in West Virginia honestly believes that Jim Justice is going to show up in Washington, D.C., regularly.”
Justice’s campaign did not address various inquiries about attendance issues, such as whether he would maintain a residence in D.C. or commute to the capital. Spokesperson Roman Stauffer commented to PMG that they would not engage with the “joke of a story” regarding anonymous sources about West Virginia's next U.S. Senator.
Public concerns regarding the 73-year-old Justice’s health have also surfaced, with Sen. Rand Paul raising questions last year about his fitness to serve. Three interviewees echoed those health concerns, with one mentioning that Justice, nicknamed “Big Jim,” often struggles with mobility.
Observations have noted Justice’s reticence to give up certain comforts, highlighting his reluctance to move to the state capital despite legal requirements. “There is concern about — and it's frequently talked about amongst legislators and amongst everybody here — about his poor health,” said a GOP state legislator who requested anonymity to speak candidly. "There was talk from time to time about whether he was going to be able to physically last and be able to carry out his term.”
Having initially been elected as a Democrat in 2016 and switching parties the following year, Justice enjoys considerable popularity in West Virginia. He won the GOP Senate primary decisively against conservative Rep. Alex Mooney, despite Mooney receiving significant endorsements from state legislators. Known for his friendly demeanor and his English bulldog, “Babydog,” Justice has cultivated a folksy image that sometimes shields him from criticism.
“It's an extension of him. Babydog is not like a prop. It's like he has made the dog an associative tool to his humanity,” remarked one Republican active in state politics. “It's weird.”
While it is common for lawmakers to bring their dogs to their offices on Capitol Hill, it remains uncertain whether Justice could have Babydog with him on the Senate floor, which enforces strict rules. The Senate Rules Committee did not respond to inquiries about the allowance of dogs in the chamber.
As governor, Justice maintained his position as a basketball coach at Greenbrier East High School, located about two hours from the state capital. His initial decision to reside in Lewisburg, nearly 100 miles away, led to legal action due to a state law requiring governors to live in Charleston. Ultimately, he moved to the capital in 2021.
Despite criticisms concerning his alleged sporadic attendance, some lawmakers defended Justice’s overall approach, expressing expectations that he would prioritize West Virginia’s concerns in Congress and collaborate across party lines while maintaining conservative values. "He's not always around,” said Republican state Del. Geno Chiarelli. “He wasn't always the most transparent. It wasn't always easy to get a hold of him. But when it comes down to it, when the chips were down, we knew what he wanted.” He added that Justice’s staff “can get us the information that we need.”
State Senate President Craig Blair, a fellow Republican, acknowledged Justice’s tendency to delegate tasks but expressed confidence that the governor would understand what is necessary to effectively serve West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
Justice is currently running against former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott and appears to hold a strong lead in the limited public polling available. This Senate seat will open up after retiring Sen. Joe Manchin decided not to run for reelection.
Manchin, who has endorsed Elliott, offered limited commentary on Justice during a brief interview. When asked about the alleged attendance issues, he responded, “I don’t need to comment on that. Just get the calendar from the state.”
In 2023, the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm attempted to obtain Justice’s official schedule through a public records request, but his office did not provide it. They stated that “none of the individuals above maintains a schedule or calendar solely for official business.”
In 2019, during Justice’s first term, The Associated Press received a copy of his schedule that indicated he seldom met with his Cabinet and was generally absent from the statehouse. “Only thing I know is that amount of time and effort — and you see us running back and forth and running to all different things — takes an awful lot of energy, a lot of time,” said the 77-year-old Manchin. “But I'm hoping he's able to represent the people of West Virginia the way he should, if he becomes elected.”
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
According to interviews with nearly a dozen individuals involved in West Virginia politics from both parties, the current governor is seldom present at the state capitol in Charleston. Many expressed difficulty reaching him when seeking clarity on his policy positions, contrasting sharply with the accessibility of past governors and officials.
Concerns have been raised among state political insiders about Justice’s ability to manage the demands of commuting regularly between West Virginia and Washington, which could pose challenges for Senate Republicans. “If Democrats keep the Senate, Republicans take it, the majority is going to be slim regardless,” noted Republican state Del. Elias Coop-Gonzalez. “That means that a lot of those votes are going to really depend on him having to be there every single time. And my personal opinion is I don't really have a lot of faith that he will be there for that."
The Republican party appears well-positioned to potentially gain control of the Senate next year, though they may only achieve a narrow majority, possibly by just one vote. A senator with an inconsistent attendance record could hinder the party’s effectiveness, especially regarding votes on nominees.
“There’s an old saying that 80 percent of success in life is showing up, and Jim Justice rarely shows up,” stated Democratic state Del. Mike Pushkin. “I don't think anybody in West Virginia honestly believes that Jim Justice is going to show up in Washington, D.C., regularly.”
Justice’s campaign did not address various inquiries about attendance issues, such as whether he would maintain a residence in D.C. or commute to the capital. Spokesperson Roman Stauffer commented to PMG that they would not engage with the “joke of a story” regarding anonymous sources about West Virginia's next U.S. Senator.
Public concerns regarding the 73-year-old Justice’s health have also surfaced, with Sen. Rand Paul raising questions last year about his fitness to serve. Three interviewees echoed those health concerns, with one mentioning that Justice, nicknamed “Big Jim,” often struggles with mobility.
Observations have noted Justice’s reticence to give up certain comforts, highlighting his reluctance to move to the state capital despite legal requirements. “There is concern about — and it's frequently talked about amongst legislators and amongst everybody here — about his poor health,” said a GOP state legislator who requested anonymity to speak candidly. "There was talk from time to time about whether he was going to be able to physically last and be able to carry out his term.”
Having initially been elected as a Democrat in 2016 and switching parties the following year, Justice enjoys considerable popularity in West Virginia. He won the GOP Senate primary decisively against conservative Rep. Alex Mooney, despite Mooney receiving significant endorsements from state legislators. Known for his friendly demeanor and his English bulldog, “Babydog,” Justice has cultivated a folksy image that sometimes shields him from criticism.
“It's an extension of him. Babydog is not like a prop. It's like he has made the dog an associative tool to his humanity,” remarked one Republican active in state politics. “It's weird.”
While it is common for lawmakers to bring their dogs to their offices on Capitol Hill, it remains uncertain whether Justice could have Babydog with him on the Senate floor, which enforces strict rules. The Senate Rules Committee did not respond to inquiries about the allowance of dogs in the chamber.
As governor, Justice maintained his position as a basketball coach at Greenbrier East High School, located about two hours from the state capital. His initial decision to reside in Lewisburg, nearly 100 miles away, led to legal action due to a state law requiring governors to live in Charleston. Ultimately, he moved to the capital in 2021.
Despite criticisms concerning his alleged sporadic attendance, some lawmakers defended Justice’s overall approach, expressing expectations that he would prioritize West Virginia’s concerns in Congress and collaborate across party lines while maintaining conservative values. "He's not always around,” said Republican state Del. Geno Chiarelli. “He wasn't always the most transparent. It wasn't always easy to get a hold of him. But when it comes down to it, when the chips were down, we knew what he wanted.” He added that Justice’s staff “can get us the information that we need.”
State Senate President Craig Blair, a fellow Republican, acknowledged Justice’s tendency to delegate tasks but expressed confidence that the governor would understand what is necessary to effectively serve West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
Justice is currently running against former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott and appears to hold a strong lead in the limited public polling available. This Senate seat will open up after retiring Sen. Joe Manchin decided not to run for reelection.
Manchin, who has endorsed Elliott, offered limited commentary on Justice during a brief interview. When asked about the alleged attendance issues, he responded, “I don’t need to comment on that. Just get the calendar from the state.”
In 2023, the Senate Democrats’ campaign arm attempted to obtain Justice’s official schedule through a public records request, but his office did not provide it. They stated that “none of the individuals above maintains a schedule or calendar solely for official business.”
In 2019, during Justice’s first term, The Associated Press received a copy of his schedule that indicated he seldom met with his Cabinet and was generally absent from the statehouse. “Only thing I know is that amount of time and effort — and you see us running back and forth and running to all different things — takes an awful lot of energy, a lot of time,” said the 77-year-old Manchin. “But I'm hoping he's able to represent the people of West Virginia the way he should, if he becomes elected.”
Emily Johnson for TROIB News
