Jim Justice

James Conley "Jim" Justice II is a Republican politician and businessman serving as a U.S. Senator from West Virginia since 2025. Born in Charleston and raised in Raleigh County, Justice earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration from Marshall University. He took over his family's coal and agricultural businesses in 1993, expanding them into a vast enterprise that included over 100 companies, most notably the historic Greenbrier resort, which he purchased out of bankruptcy in 2009. Justice entered politics in 2016, winning the West Virginia governorship as a Democrat. In 2017, he switched his affiliation to the Republican Party during a rally with then-President Donald Trump. As governor, he oversaw significant infrastructure projects and enacted the largest personal income tax cut in state history. In 2024, he was elected to the U.S. Senate to succeed retiring Senator Joe Manchin, officially taking office in January 2025.

Justice maintains a conservative platform focused on energy independence, economic growth, and social conservatism. He is a prominent advocate for the coal and natural gas industries, opposing federal environmental regulations that he views as overreaching. In economic policy, he supports broad tax reductions and has emphasized fiscal measures to attract new businesses to West Virginia. Justice identifies as "pro-life," having signed legislation that significantly restricted abortion access in his state, and is a strong supporter of Second Amendment rights. On immigration, he has advocated for increased border security and the construction of a wall along the southern U.S. border. His approach to education includes support for teacher pay increases and vocational training programs.