Jim Justice considering run for West Virginia governor

West Virginia Sen. Jim Justice (R) said Thursday he is considering a run at the governor’s mansion in 2028, after leaving it to join the upper chamber less than two years ago.

During an appearance on MetroNews’s “Talkline” radio show, Justice said he was “100 percent” considering a primary challenge to incumbent West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey (R) — who succeeded the first-term senator last year.

“I’m not going to tease around with people, that’s awful to do,” Justice added. “That’s not my style. We’ll make a decision and make it quickly.”

Politico first reported Thursday on Justice’s consideration of a primary challenge to Morrisey.

The 75-year-old West Virginia senator served two terms as governor from 2017 to 2025. The Republican convert defeated Democrat Glenn Elliott by more than 40 points to secure his Senate seat in 2024, eight years after Justice won his first governor’s race as a Democrat.

Justice announced he was switching parties at a rally alongside President Trump, after he did not publicly back 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

If Justice, a businessman worth hundreds of millions, were to seek a third term as governor, it would pit him against his successor in Morrisey.

Justice did not back Morrisey in the 2024 GOP gubernatorial primary, instead endorsing Moore Capito — now the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia and the son of West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R).

Morrisey said Thursday that Justice running for governor is the “last thing I want to focus on,” noting he is roughly 20 months into his first term.

“I want to deliver. I want to keep delivering on big wins for West Virginia, like we announced today. Helping our families, not playing politics,” he told reporters. “I want to make sure that we’re doing those really incredible things to help families who are struggling, that’s what my focus is.”

The former and incumbent West Virginia governors exchanged verbal blows last week, when Morrisey praised a deal under which Justice sold his controlling interest in West Virginia’s Greenbrier resort.

“I am hopeful that the new controlling owner will bring much needed financial stability to the iconic Greenbrier resort,” Morrisey wrote on social platform X .

Justice fired back, saying his successor as governor “seems awfully eager to take shots at people who actually take risks, build businesses and create jobs” in West Virginia.

“I’ve spent my life doing exactly that — signing the front of paychecks for thousands of West Virginians, not just collecting one,” the senator wrote on X .

He later added, “Patrick can keep playing politics. We’ll keep building.”

That prompted a response from Morrisey. Replying to Justice on X, the governor wrote , “I wish you the best, but you can’t blame me or anyone else for your financial mismanagement in losing The Greenbrier.”

Morrisey continued, “I hope you’ll join the Greenbrier’s new leadership and me in keeping jobs in West Virginia while restoring the resort to its former glory. Keep the faith!”

During his “Talkline” interview Thursday, Justice said he hopes Morrisey and state officials “knock it out of the park.” But the senator noted he will make a decision about challenging his successor next year “real soon.”