Voters in the traditionally Republican West Virginia are set to cast their ballots on Tuesday to determine if a U.S. Senate seat will be secured by the Republican Party.
The contest features two-term GOP Governor Jim Justice facing off against Glenn Elliott, a former Democratic Mayor of Wheeling. This election is particularly significant as it follows the decision of incumbent Senator Joe Manchin to not pursue reelection and shift his affiliation from Democrat to Independent earlier this year. Manchin previously held the distinction of being the sole Democrat in statewide office.
Historically, the Republican Party has not held both of West Virginia’s U.S. Senate positions since 1958.
Justice, who is 73 years old, has exuded confidence by proclaiming himself the victor well ahead of the Election Day.
He aims to leverage the strong backing of former President Donald Trump, who won West Virginia by substantial margins—42 points in 2016 and 39 points in 2020. Interestingly, Justice began his political journey as a Democrat when he was elected governor in 2016 but switched to the Republican Party just seven months after taking office, coinciding with a public appearance alongside Trump.
Despite his bold claims of victory, Justice indicated a lack of interest in debating Elliott, expressing that he found no necessity in such an engagement. He pointed to his significant win against U.S. Representative Alex Mooney in the primary as evidence of his appeal, attributing his success to low-key campaigning without the usual promotional materials.
In contrast, Elliott has been actively campaigning across all 55 counties this summer, while Justice has mostly focused on his duties as governor, announcing developments in economic policy alongside his English bulldog, Babydog. He has incorporated political commentary into his weekly media briefings and has been vocal in his criticisms of President Joe Biden’s administration.
Justice, a former billionaire, oversees a family-owned business empire that includes the renowned Greenbrier Resort. Much of his tenure has been marked by addressing various legal challenges linked to overdue business payments and penalties.
On the other hand, Elliott, a 52-year-old attorney with experience as a legislative aide to the late Senator Robert Byrd, identifies as a Democrat due to his affinity for the “underdog” and a belief in the role that unions played in establishing the American middle class and differentiating the U.S. economy from global competitors in the mid-20th century.
Voter polling locations will open at 6:30 a.m. and close at 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.