Jim Justice's Reported Attendance Issues; Potential Challenge for GOP Senate Prospects
The Senate GOP stands a solid opportunity to secure a slim majority next year, but a Republican who is often absent may pose a risk.
TroibNews 
Jim Justice is poised to become West Virginia’s next senator, but questions remain about his attendance and commitment to the role.
The current governor seldom appears at the state capitol in Charleston, as noted by interviews with nearly a dozen individuals engaged in West Virginia politics from both sides of the aisle. Many have expressed difficulty in reaching him for insight on his policy positions, which contrasts sharply with the accessibility of previous governors and government officials.
Concerns have emerged among West Virginia political figures regarding Justice's willingness to frequently travel between the state 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,” said Republican West Virginia 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."
Republicans have a viable chance to gain control of the Senate next year, but their majority may be razor-thin, potentially just one vote. A senator with an inconsistent attendance record could be a significant liability, particularly when it comes to voting on nominees.
“There's an old saying that 80 percent of success in life is showing up, and Jim Justice rarely shows up,” said 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 multiple inquiries about attendance issues, including whether he would establish a residence in D.C. or commute regularly. Spokesperson Roman Stauffer told PMG: “We decline to participate in this joke of a story and respond to your anonymous sources regarding the next United States Senator from West Virginia.”
Public discussions have also focused on concerns about the 73-year-old Justice’s health, with Sen. Rand Paul previously questioning his fitness for the role. Three interviewees for this piece echoed those health concerns, with one stating that Justice, nicknamed “Big Jim,” struggles with walking or standing for extended periods.
Additional sources pointed out Justice’s reluctance to abandon certain comforts, citing his original refusal to relocate to the state capital, despite it being against state law.
“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, like others quoted, chose to remain anonymous 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.”
Originally elected as a Democrat in 2016, Justice switched parties the next year and remains quite popular in West Virginia. He won the GOP Senate primary decisively against conservative Rep. Alex Mooney, despite Mooney receiving a sizable number of endorsements from state legislators. Justice is known for his friendly demeanor and his English bulldog, “Babydog,” who often accompanies him at public events.
However, sources indicate that Justice’s folksy charm, paired with his beloved pet, 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,” shared one Republican involved in state politics. “It's weird.”
While many lawmakers bring their dogs to their offices, it's uncertain if Justice could bring Babydog onto the Senate floor, given its strict regulations. The Senate Rules Committee did not respond to a request for clarification on whether dogs are permitted in the chamber.
Justice has also maintained his role as a basketball coach at Greenbrier East High School, located about two hours from the state capitol, which has raised eyebrows. His initial choice to live in Lewisburg, approximately 100 miles away, resulted in legal action against him during his first term, leading to a 2021 decision to move to Charleston.
Despite acknowledging Justice’s reportedly minimal attendance, some lawmakers defended his overall performance, anticipating that he would prioritize West Virginia's issues in Congress and take on the role effectively. Three legislators mentioned that he is likely to collaborate across party lines while maintaining conservative principles.
“He's not always around,” Republican state Del. Geno Chiarelli remarked. “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 emphasized that Justice’s staff could facilitate access to necessary information.
State Senate President Craig Blair, another Republican, recognized Justice as “a delegator,” expressing confidence that the governor would determine the appropriate actions to effectively serve West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
Justice is running against former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott and currently dominates the Democrat in the limited public polling available. This Senate seat is open following the retirement of Sen. Joe Manchin.
Manchin, who endorsed Elliott, did not elaborate much during a brief interview but responded to questions about Justice’s attendance: “I don’t need to comment on that. Just get the calendar from the state.”
In 2023, Senate Democrats’ campaign arm attempted to procure Justice’s official schedule through a public records request, but his office declined to provide it, stating, “none of the individuals above maintains a schedule or calendar solely for official business.”
During Justice’s first term in 2019, The Associated Press obtained a copy of seven months of his schedule, revealing few meetings with his Cabinet and minimal presence at 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,” 77-year-old Manchin noted. “But I'm hoping he's able to represent the people of West Virginia the way he should, if he becomes elected.”
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
The current governor seldom appears at the state capitol in Charleston, as noted by interviews with nearly a dozen individuals engaged in West Virginia politics from both sides of the aisle. Many have expressed difficulty in reaching him for insight on his policy positions, which contrasts sharply with the accessibility of previous governors and government officials.
Concerns have emerged among West Virginia political figures regarding Justice's willingness to frequently travel between the state 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,” said Republican West Virginia 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."
Republicans have a viable chance to gain control of the Senate next year, but their majority may be razor-thin, potentially just one vote. A senator with an inconsistent attendance record could be a significant liability, particularly when it comes to voting on nominees.
“There's an old saying that 80 percent of success in life is showing up, and Jim Justice rarely shows up,” said 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 multiple inquiries about attendance issues, including whether he would establish a residence in D.C. or commute regularly. Spokesperson Roman Stauffer told PMG: “We decline to participate in this joke of a story and respond to your anonymous sources regarding the next United States Senator from West Virginia.”
Public discussions have also focused on concerns about the 73-year-old Justice’s health, with Sen. Rand Paul previously questioning his fitness for the role. Three interviewees for this piece echoed those health concerns, with one stating that Justice, nicknamed “Big Jim,” struggles with walking or standing for extended periods.
Additional sources pointed out Justice’s reluctance to abandon certain comforts, citing his original refusal to relocate to the state capital, despite it being against state law.
“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, like others quoted, chose to remain anonymous 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.”
Originally elected as a Democrat in 2016, Justice switched parties the next year and remains quite popular in West Virginia. He won the GOP Senate primary decisively against conservative Rep. Alex Mooney, despite Mooney receiving a sizable number of endorsements from state legislators. Justice is known for his friendly demeanor and his English bulldog, “Babydog,” who often accompanies him at public events.
However, sources indicate that Justice’s folksy charm, paired with his beloved pet, 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,” shared one Republican involved in state politics. “It's weird.”
While many lawmakers bring their dogs to their offices, it's uncertain if Justice could bring Babydog onto the Senate floor, given its strict regulations. The Senate Rules Committee did not respond to a request for clarification on whether dogs are permitted in the chamber.
Justice has also maintained his role as a basketball coach at Greenbrier East High School, located about two hours from the state capitol, which has raised eyebrows. His initial choice to live in Lewisburg, approximately 100 miles away, resulted in legal action against him during his first term, leading to a 2021 decision to move to Charleston.
Despite acknowledging Justice’s reportedly minimal attendance, some lawmakers defended his overall performance, anticipating that he would prioritize West Virginia's issues in Congress and take on the role effectively. Three legislators mentioned that he is likely to collaborate across party lines while maintaining conservative principles.
“He's not always around,” Republican state Del. Geno Chiarelli remarked. “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 emphasized that Justice’s staff could facilitate access to necessary information.
State Senate President Craig Blair, another Republican, recognized Justice as “a delegator,” expressing confidence that the governor would determine the appropriate actions to effectively serve West Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
Justice is running against former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott and currently dominates the Democrat in the limited public polling available. This Senate seat is open following the retirement of Sen. Joe Manchin.
Manchin, who endorsed Elliott, did not elaborate much during a brief interview but responded to questions about Justice’s attendance: “I don’t need to comment on that. Just get the calendar from the state.”
In 2023, Senate Democrats’ campaign arm attempted to procure Justice’s official schedule through a public records request, but his office declined to provide it, stating, “none of the individuals above maintains a schedule or calendar solely for official business.”
During Justice’s first term in 2019, The Associated Press obtained a copy of seven months of his schedule, revealing few meetings with his Cabinet and minimal presence at 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,” 77-year-old Manchin noted. “But I'm hoping he's able to represent the people of West Virginia the way he should, if he becomes elected.”
Ramin Sohrabi contributed to this report for TROIB News
