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Jim Justice
James Conley Justice II (R) is the 36th Governor of West Virginia and the heir to Bluestone Industries, a business formerly run by his father.
Associations:
National Rifle Association
West Virginia Coal Association
West Virginia Business and Industry Council
party
Republican
jurisdiction
West Virginia
service dates
January 16, 2017- Present
gender
Male
Personal Moments
1951
Justice is born
James Conley Justice II is born on April 27 in Charleston, West Virginia, to Ruth and James Conley Justice I.
1973
Justice graduates from University
Justice attends Marshall University and graduates with a bachelor’s degree and Masters of Business Administration.
1975
Justice gets married
Justice marries his high school sweetheart, Cathy, and the couple has two children: James “Jay” Conley Justice III and Dr. Jill Justice.
1977
Justice starts his family farm
Justice founds “Justice Family Farms” in Monroe County, West Virginia, which has grown into a major agricultural enterprise.
1993
Justice inherits the family business
After the passing of his father, Justice becomes the CEO of Bluestone Industries and Bluestone Coal Corporation.
2018
Justice is the wealthiest person in West Virginia
With a net worth of $1.2 billion, Justice is the wealthiest person in West Virginia.
Campaign History
2015
Justice begins his bid for the governorship
Justice announces his campaign for governor of West Virginia as a Democrat.
2016
Justice wins the governorship
Justice defeats Republican candidate Bill Cole in the West Virginia general election.
2019
Justice announces re-election campaign for governor
Justice ran for another term as governor of West Virginia, this time as a Republican.
2020
West Virginia re-elects Justice as governor
Justice won the state general election against Democratic candidate Ben Salango.
Position on Key Issues
The Coal Industry
Working in the coal business for years, Justice says an active coal industry is vital to a community’s perseverance, particularly in rural areas. Since 2015, the governor has involved himself in efforts to maintain existing coal mines and jobs, and has signed reforms that prohibit protests targeting oil and gas facilities.
Economic Development
Justice believes new businesses bring innovation and generate needed revenue. For the last two years, the governor has committed to supporting corporate-oriented policies that appeal to companies, specifically within the coal industry. In addition, Governor Justice aims at improving state revenue by raising sales taxes while opposing budget cuts.
Opioid Crisis
Justice is concerned with the effects of the opioid crisis on communities and has made it a priority to find solutions to this health crisis. The governor has favored initiatives to improve responses to intervention strategies for chronic substance abusers. Governor Justice has also supported measures that stop the flow of drugs and reduce fatal overdoses.
Key Issues:
The Coal Industry
Economic Development
Opioid Crisis