Jim Justice successfully secured a U.S. Senate seat for the Republican Party in West Virginia on Tuesday. He triumphed over Democrat Glenn Elliott to win the position that will soon be vacated by retiring U.S. Senator Joe Manchin. Notably, Manchin, who has a history as a Democrat, made the transition to independent earlier this year. With this victory, West Virginia will experience a significant shift, as it is the first instance since 1958 where both of its Senate seats are held by Republicans.

Justice, who has served two terms as governor, is also a former billionaire with a diverse portfolio of business interests. In recent years, he has attracted attention due to various unpaid fines and debts tied to his businesses, which have included lapses in employee health insurance contributions. Justice was officially declared the winner of this race at 7:30 p.m. EST, marking a noteworthy development in West Virginia’s political landscape.