BREAKING: Trump-endorsed Republican Jim Justice wins WV primary

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has won the primary in that state and is poised to fill the seat left vacant by outgoing Democrat Senator Joe Manchin. Justice, backed by Donald Trump, was the favorite to win. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and WV sitting Senator Shelley Moore Capito also supported Justice.

Justice beat out nearest competitor Alexander Mooney 59.7 percent to Mooney's 29.4 percent. Mooney has served in Congress for the state. Justice is a heavy favorite in November. Trump won the state in 2020 by more than 2-to-1. Justice was leading Manchin in polling even prior to Manchin's announcement that he would not run again.



If Justice wins the general in November, as he is projected to do, he will aid Republicans in the Senate and give West Virginians another conservative in Congress. Manchin, while a thorn in the side of the Democrats especially on fossil fuels and energy issues, voted with his party on other issues. Justice has made his money in coal. 

There are 23 seats on ballots across the US that Democrats need to hold to retain their Senate majority, including hotly contested ones in red-leaning states such as Ohio and Montana as well as West Virginia. Manchin, who announced his departure from the Senate in November, has vowed to travel the country to try to bring Americans together in his retirement.