West Virginia’s Jim Justice to Delay Senate Swearing-In by 10 Days to Finish Governor’s Term

‘I don’t think that West Virginia needs to have four governors in 10 days,’ Justice says.

West Virginia Gov. and Sen.-elect Jim Justice in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, in a file image. Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Sen.-elect Gov. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) said Thursday that he will delay his swearing in as West Virginia’s junior senator to serve out the remainder of his time in office as governor of the state.

Justice, who is replacing outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), said he will be sworn in on Jan. 13 instead of Jan. 3, when the new Congress is sworn into office. Jan. 13 is also when Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey, a Republican who is currently the state’s attorney general, will take office.