West Virginia's U.S. Senate seat flipped to Republican in 2024, when then-Gov. Jim Justice defeated Democratic nominee Glenn Elliott by 41 points. The seat had previously been held by centrist Joe Manchin, who left the Democratic Party and became an independent that year. The flip underscored West Virginia's broader political realignment: a state that as recently as the 1990s elected Democrats to statewide office at all levels has become one of the most Republican in the country, with the GOP now holding every statewide office and its entire congressional delegation. Now, according to Politico, Justice is "seriously considering launching a campaign to return to the governor's mansion" — a move that could set the stage for bitter infighting among West Virginia Republicans.

Politico's Aaron Pellish reports: "Less than two years into his Senate term, Jim Justice is seriously considering launching a campaign to return to the governor's mansion. The West Virginia Republican is exploring a 2028 gubernatorial primary challenge to Gov. Patrick Morrisey, according to two people who have spoken directly with Justice about his deliberations and were granted anonymity to discuss them."

One of those sources said Justice is "very seriously exploring" a gubernatorial run, adding, "I think he's closer to running than not. If I had to give a percentage, I would think he's 75 percent likely to do this." Both sources, however, stressed that Justice has not made a final decision.

If Justice does decide to run, Pellish writes, it could pave the way for an intense intraparty "clash" among West Virginia Republicans. "A Justice gubernatorial campaign would set up a major intraparty clash with Morrisey that could further entrench growing factions within the state GOP," Pellish explains. "Morrisey is a conservative hardliner, while Justice, who was originally elected to the governorship as a Democrat before dramatically announcing a party switch during a rally with President Donald Trump in 2017, is more closely aligned with the pro-business wing of the party."

Justice and Morrisey have "never been close," according to Pellish. "Justice endorsed Morrisey's opponent, Moore Capito, the son of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), in the 2024 gubernatorial primary," Pellish notes. Justice was heavily recruited by Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) to take on then-Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in the 2024 election, as Justice was nearing the end of his second term as governor. West Virginia law bars any governor from serving more than two consecutive terms but imposes no limits on non-consecutive terms — the provision that would allow Justice, who served from 2017 to 2025, to seek the office again in 2028. Manchin opted to retire.

Morrisey, for his part, has the backing of Club for Growth President David McIntosh, who vowed that if the governor faces a GOP primary challenge in 2028, "We are prepared to do what it takes to help him win again."

West Virginia-based Republican strategist Greg Thomas, who does not work for either Justice or Morrisey, said the senator would have his work cut out for him in a 2028 matchup. "To beat Morrisey, (Justice is) going to have to run the best campaign he's ever run," Thomas told Politico. "He'll have to run a bigger, more comprehensive, well-funded effort to beat Morrisey than what he's had in past elections."