Outgoing governor days away from joining U.S. Senate
By Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Four days before stepping down to join the U.S. Senate and turn over the keys to Governor-Elect Patrick Morrisey, outgoing Gov. Jim Justice gave a goodbye address to a joint session of the West Virginia Senate and House of Delegates Wednesday.
Justice – who delayed taking his U.S. Senate seat in order to avoid having two senate presidents acting as governor before Morrisey is formally sworn as the 37th governor of the State of West Virginia in on Monday, Jan. 13 – spoke to lawmakers on the first gaveling in of the Legislature to formally accept the election results from the 2024 general elections.
“We pulled the rope together, we made tough right decisions,” Justice said. “They called us hillbillies, but we proved them wrong. And now West Virginia, in many ways, is the envy of the world. I would tell you keep it going. Absolutely keep it going. I’m so proud of you, it’s off the chart.”
Justice likened his two four-year terms as governor as coaching a sports team. A coach of the Greenbrier East High School girls’ basketball team, Justice said much of his inspiration for leading the state came from leading his athletes.
