CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Jim Justice is going to stay governor until Governor-elect Patrick Morrisey takes the oath of office on Jan. 13.
Justice announced Thursday he would pass on the opportunity to take his seat in the U.S. Senate on Jan. 3 for the sake of a smooth transition.
“My whole thinking behind all of this is the continuity of government is essential during transitions,” Justice said during Thursday’s media briefing. “My whole focus is this, when I took this job, I took this job to serve the people of West Virginia.”
An opposite decision by Justice, going to the Senate on Jan. 3, would have created a situation where the state would have four governors in 10 days including Justice, current state Senate President Craig Blair, soon-to-be state Senate President Randy Smith and then Morrisey on Jan. 13.
The state Constitution provides for the Senate president to be the governor if the governor leaves office. Blair will be Senate president until Jan. 8 when Senator Randy Smith, R-Tucker, will be chosen by fellow senators. If Justice left earlier, Blair and Smith would be governor for five days each.
“I don’t think that West Virginia needs to have four governors in 10 days. I don’t think that should happen,” Justice said. “The people of West Virginia elected me to this office and they expect me to do right by them always.”
Justice said he has spoken with both U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito and incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune and he has the support of both. Capito put out a statement Thursday afternoon.
“I very much respect Governor Justice’s decision to honor his commitment to complete his term as Governor of the State of West Virginia,” Capito said. “I am looking forward to serving with Senator Justice as there is much to do to advance President Trump’s agenda on behalf of all West Virginians.”
Justice said not much is expected to happen in the U.S. Senate until after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn-in on Jan. 20.
“Between Jan. 3 and the time President Trump takes office there’ll be some things happen but there won’t be anything happen until President Trump takes office,” Justice said.
Justice said he hopes to get several things done between now and Jan 13.
“I’m going to serve as your governor and I’m going to serve and do exactly what I’m supposed to do to the end of my term,” Justice said.