“Jim Justice, the businessman-turned-politician governor of West Virginia, has been pursued in court for years by banks, governments, business partners and former employees for millions of dollars in unmet obligations,” the New York Times reports.

“And for a long time, Mr. Justice and his family’s companies have managed to stave off one threat after another with wily legal tactics notably at odds with the aw-shucks persona that has endeared him to so many West Virginians. On Tuesday, he is heavily favored to win the Republican Senate primary and cruise to victory in the general election, especially after the departure of the Democratic incumbent, Joe Manchin III.”

“But now, as he wraps up his second term as governor and campaigns for a seat in the U.S. Senate, things are looking dicier. Much like Donald J. Trump, with whom he is often compared — with whom he often compares himself — Mr. Justice has faced a barrage of costly judgments and legal setbacks.”

“Jim Justice is arguably West Virginia’s most popular politician and most prominent businessman. The dual feat is all the more impressive given how many people he owes money to,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“The Justice empire is also well-known around the state for its unpaid bills. Justice, his family and his companies have piled up hundreds of millions of dollars in liabilities to banks, coal companies and federal and state regulators, some of which the Justices are now disputing.”

Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship has filled to run for U.S. Senate, WV News reports.

Blankenship, who billed himself as a “radical” Republican when he unsuccessfully ran for Senate in 2018, is now a registered Democrat.

“Donald Trump endorsed West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s (R) Senate campaign on Wednesday, dealing a blow to rival Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), who was also angling for the endorsement,” Politico reports.

Politico: “If Manchin were to change his party affiliation to an independent, the incumbent West Virginia senator would still trail GOP Gov. Jim Justice in a head-to-head match-up, according to a polling memo from GOP pollster The Tarrance Group.”

“Justice would lead Manchin, 49-43, with 8 percent undecided and a 4.5 percent margin of error. The poll was commissioned by the Mitch McConnell-aligned groups Senate Leadership Fund.”

A new MetroNews West Virginia Poll finds Gov. Jim Justice (R) leading Sen. Joe Manchin (D) in a U.S. Senate race, 51% to 38% with 11% not sure.

“Joe Manchin isn’t even a Senate candidate and he’s still outraising his potential opponents,” Politico reports.

“The West Virginia senator’s campaign raised nearly $1.3 million in the most recent fundraising quarter, besting Republicans Gov. Jim Justice and Rep. Alex Mooney. Manchin’s Country Roads PAC brought in about $400,000.”

Two groups — Club for Growth Action and Protect Freedom PAC — have raised more than $13 million for Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) as he looks to take on Gov. Jim Justice (R) in the West Virginia GOP Senate primary, The Hill reports.

“A federal judge says Gov. Jim Justice has to provide financial information in a long-running lawsuit, finding no merit in Justice’s position that such disclosures could be used against him in his run for U.S. Senate,” West Virginia Metro News reports.

“U.S. District Judge Leonard Stark of Delaware issued an oral order today that Justice has to issue full written responses and produce all responsive documents in a dispute over paying a judgement of nearly $2 million to the Xcoal supply company.”

A new East Carolina University poll finds West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) trouncing Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) in a U.S. Senate race, 54% to 32%.

“Democrats on Tuesday sued West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican Senate candidate, for refusing to release his work schedule as governor in response to public records request seeking to show a continued pattern of absenteeism,” the Washington Post reports.

“Republicans’ best option for unseating Sen. Joe Manchin: Pray that he retires first,” Politico reports.

“The longtime West Virginia Democrat might be the most endangered member of his party heading into 2024. But Republicans still see the contest against him as treacherous. Manchin is a West Virginia institution who has repeatedly defied the odds in a deep-red state.”

“I am laser focused on doing the job West Virginians elected me to do — lowering healthcare costs, protecting Social Security and Medicare, shoring up American energy security and getting our fiscal house in order. But make no mistake, I will win any race I enter.”

— Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), in a statement.

“West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) filed the paperwork Thursday for a U.S. Senate campaign, setting up the possibility of a marquee 2024 race against Sen. Joe Manchin (D) in a state that Republicans view as one of their best pickup opportunities,” the Washington Post reports.