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Reaction varies on Justice’s run for office

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Democratic Party Chairwoman Belinda Biafore says a contested primary in next year’s race for governor will be good for her party.

“At the end of the day, I think you’re going to find out they all have the same goals. They may have different ways of presenting them and different ideas for us to get there, but at the end of the day that nominee is going to be out there fighting for the people of West Virginia,” Biafore said Tuesday during an appearance on MetroNews Talkline.

The Democrats currently have two candidates who have filed pre-candidacy papers including state Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler (D-Marshall) and Greenbrier Resort owner Jim Justice, who did so Tuesday at the state capitol.

Biafore said her party has a pair of strong candidates while the Republicans are just giving lip service.

West Virginia Republican Party Chairman Conrad Lucas alleged Tuesday the Democratic Party went after Justice for his personal wealth.

“They view him as an individual who can write a check, not have to fund raise and so therefore, he will be making that an issue in and of itself,” Lucas said.

Justice, who has an estimated worth of more than $1.6 billion, said Tuesday he doesn’t plan to bankroll his entire campaign. He said he wants others to be vested in his vision.

West Virginia Wesleyan Political Science Professor Robert Rupp said Tuesday on Talkline Justice’s candidacy isn’t unlike what has been happening in recent months across the U.S.

“People are turning against politicians and looking for that ‘businessman’ who will come in on a white horse and save the state,” Rupp said.

Justice hasn’t said where he stands on a lot of the traditional issues that are usually part of elections in West Virginia. Biafore said that will come out as Justice tells his story.

“He says, ‘I’m tired of excuses. I want to be out there. I want to make a difference and I want to work hard,’ I think that’s what we as a Democratic Party have always stood for,” Biafore said.

Professor Rupp said Justice may try to hold on to some of those views as long as possible.

“We don’t know where Justice stands on anything and the fact that he’s a former Republican, we don’t know,” Rupp said. “His opponents are counting that the more he says the more votes he is going to lose.”





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