WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV (LOOTPRESS) – U.S. Sen. Jim Justice says he is considering another run for governor of West Virginia in 2028, potentially setting up a Republican primary battle with current Gov. Patrick Morrisey.
Justice, who served two terms as governor before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2024, addressed the possibility Thursday during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Business Summit at The Greenbrier.
When asked whether he was considering running for governor again, Justice said he was “100 percent” considering it.
“The considering all centers around just one thing—if we were to ask people in that room (Business Summit), ‘Have we lost our spark?’ A lot of people in that room would say that we have,” Justice told MetroNews.
Justice said he does not plan to leave West Virginians waiting long for an answer.
“I’m not going to tease around with people, that’s awful to do. That’s not my style,” Justice told MetroNews. “We’ll make a decision and make it quickly.”
A Justice campaign could lead to a high-profile Republican primary against Morrisey, who succeeded Justice as governor in 2025 and would be eligible to seek a second term in 2028.
The possibility comes as tensions between Justice and Morrisey have increasingly spilled into public view.
The two Republicans recently traded attacks on social media following changes in control of The Greenbrier. Morrisey said he hoped the resort’s new controlling owner would bring “much needed financial stability” to the property.
Justice responded by accusing Morrisey of taking shots at people who create jobs and invest in West Virginia, saying, “Patrick can keep playing politics. We’ll keep building.”
Morrisey fired back, telling Justice, “I wish you the best, but you can’t blame me or anyone else for your financial mismanagement in losing The Greenbrier.”
Their political differences predate the latest dispute. When Justice was preparing to leave the governor’s office in 2024, he endorsed Moore Capito rather than Morrisey in the Republican gubernatorial primary. Morrisey ultimately won the primary and later the general election. Justice and Morrisey have also backed different Republican candidates in some recent legislative races.
Despite the growing tensions, Justice told MetroNews on Thursday that he hopes Morrisey and his administration succeed.
“As far as Patrick and everybody here, I hope they knock it out of the park and they knock it out of the park every single day but we’ll make a decision and we’ll make a decision real soon,” Justice told MetroNews.
Justice’s Senate term runs through 2030, meaning a run for governor in 2028 would come while he is still serving in the U.S. Senate.
Justice has not formally announced a campaign for governor.
