Jim Justice emerges victorious in West Virginia Senate race, set to succeed retiring Sen. Joe Manchin

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has won the state’s U.S. Senate race, easily defeating Democrat Glenn Elliott in the decisively red state. Justice, known for viral moments such as an incident on live television in 2020, will replace retiring Senator Joe Manchin in January. Manchin, a political outlier as the sole Democrat holding statewide office in West Virginia, served for 14 years and was a key figure in a deeply conservative state.

Justice, a wealthy entrepreneur who has served as governor since 2017, was expected to win the Senate seat in a race that put Democrats on defense. His opponent, Elliott, is a former mayor of Wheeling, W.Va. The race marks the first new seat for Republicans in the election cycle.

During his time in Congress, Manchin faced criticism for blocking the Democratic party’s agenda to appeal to his conservative voter base. Despite this, he managed to hold onto his seat. He announced last year that he would not seek a third full Senate term in 2024, stating that he felt he had accomplished his goals for West Virginia. The transition of power from Manchin to Justice represents a significant shift in West Virginia politics, with Justice set to take on a new role on the national stage in the Senate.

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