Jim Justice looks past his business problems and declares himself the winner of the West Virginia Senate

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than a month before the Nov. 5 election, Jim Justice declared victory in his Senate race in deeply Republican West Virginia, a blow to the chest as the two-term governor waged a behind-the-scenes fight to retain some members . of its family businesses with a good reputation.

In a state where Donald Trump won all counties in the past two presidential elections, Justice crowned himself the runaway successor retiring Senator Joe Manchinwhose seat had been one of the last lines of defense for Democrats trying to maintain their slim majority.

“I say over and over again: Judge me by my actions,” Justice told reporters on September 19.

That challenge could have had a different meaning, as a reminder of the banks, creditors, federal agencies and others who hounded Justice for years to pay its debts, including loan defaults, late payments and court fines. He is threatened with exclusion. Early in his term, the governor was indicted for not living in the governor’s mansion in Charleston as required by law, and while there his list of accomplishments was not particularly long or notable.

Most recently, Justice’s family paid a debt obligation to stave off the threat of a debt collection company to auction off his Greenbrier resort’s historic hotel.

And yet Justice’s boast was probably justified. The politician with the folksy manner and a pet bulldog named Babydog at his side is in line for a seat that national Democrats virtually lost as soon as Manchin decided not to run again. Republicans had made it a top target, and leaders of both parties had come to believe that even Manchin could not win a third full term as a Democrat in a state that had become the most Republican in the country.

According to AdImpact, which tracks campaign spending data, Democrats are outspent by Republicans in the race by more than 5-to-1, while Democrat Glenn Elliott received less than $3 million in aid from outside groups.

Whether voters ignore Justice’s baggage remains to be seen. Elliott was surprised by Justice’s public declaration of victory and his refusal to hold a debate. Elliott, a former mayor of Wheeling which was endorsed by Manchin before Manchin switched from the Democratic Party to an independentsaid voters deserve to know more about the Justice Department, including its finances.

“One of the frustrating parts of the campaign is that all the issues the governor has, for whatever reason, don’t seem to be getting through to the average voter,” Elliott said.

By refusing to debate, Justice simply said he was too busy.

“I want to run across the finish line as governor,” he said. “That’s it.”

As Governor, Justice pushed by income tax cuts and billions for road repairs and construction. He capitalized on high state revenue surpluses, job creation and tourism.

But he has been criticized for underfunding public schools and the state’s foster care system, and advocates for low-income residents say he has failed to address the challenges facing the neediest citizens. During the pandemic, some lawmakers attacked Justice Department awards for people who got vaccinated against the coronavirus “wasteful spending.”

West Virginia has one of the highest poverty rates in the United States. It too lost the highest percentage of residents of any state According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 population estimates, Justice has lost a seat in Congress over the past decade, which has continued during Justice’s second term.

While it is uncertain how far back Justice’s family debts go, they predate his time as governor and deprive him of the right to call himself a billionaire.

“I’m surprised that the commitments in his business and other matters haven’t really undermined his popularity,” said Robert Rupp, a retired professor of political history at West Virginia Wesleyan College.

Lawsuits filed more than a decade ago involved unpaid bills or debts from the Justice family’s mining operations in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia. Just before he was elected in 2016, Justice’s coal companies owed millions in back taxes to some of Appalachia’s most impoverished counties. His companies also had millions in tax liens from the state of West Virginia.

The challenges continued to pile up and reached a peak this year. Earlier this month, Justice’s family said it has settled debts to avoid foreclosure of the Greenbrier hotel, which has housed presidents and royalty at the resort he bought out of bankruptcy in 2009. A union official at the Greenbrier said in August that Justice’s family was at least $2.4 million behind in payments to an employee health insurance fund, jeopardizing employee coverage.

Justice, who switched parties seven months after taking office has repeatedly said that attempts had been made to seize the hotel political revenge. The state Democratic Party said this was “a direct result of his own financial incompetence.”

Elliott, wanting to spread the word, embarked on a summer tour of all 55 counties. Justice made some fall campaign stops, but instead made announcements about economic development and school visits, which included Babydog.

Elliott said residents should pay attention to who Justice is, “not who they see on TV with the dog and the checks they have to give at various ribbon cuttings. But the one who doesn’t pay his bills and doesn’t pay his taxes. Doesn’t respect the process. Doesn’t show up for work. Does not think voters deserve a chance to see him debate and basically takes their vote for granted.”

Justice’s campaign has raised $4.3 million, compared to about $800,000 for Elliott. Justice has stayed on the path he set during an easy Republican Party victory over U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney.

Even Justice marvels at how smooth his ride has been.

“I don’t want to say this in a selfish way,” Justice told reporters last month. “I didn’t put up a sign during the primaries. Think about this for a moment. I didn’t enter once and I won by more than 35 points. The people of this state know me. They know me, and they know me very well. I hardly campaigned at all.

“From the standpoint of the Senate race and everything, the Senate race is over. We’re going to win the race, and we’re going to win the race when we leave.