This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by <a href="https://www.factset.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_factset">Factset</a>. Powered and implemented by <a href="https://www.factset.com/solutions/business-needs/digital-solutions" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_factset_digital_solutions">FactSet Digital Solutions</a>. <a href="https://www.factset.com/privacy" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_factset_privacy">Legal Statement</a>. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by <a href="https://lipperalpha.refinitiv.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="topnav_more_refinitive_info">Refinitiv Lipper</a>. <br>Sen.-elect Jim Justice, R-W.Va., discusses his desire to help pass Trump's agenda in Congress and the role his famous dog will play in Washington, D.C.<br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/justice-senate-west-virginia-governor-very-interested-challenging-joe-manchin" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><u>West Virginia Republican Gov. Jim Justice</u></a> announced that he would delay his U.S. Senate swearing-in, thereby preventing a whirlwind of four governors in a 10-day period due to coinciding changes in Charleston's legislative leadership.<br><br>In doing so, it leaves federal Republicans' Senate majority briefly at two instead of three seats. Justice alluded to such <a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/e9p3qc7LEHk?t=161s">in remarks late Thursday</a>, saying he wants to do what’s best for Mountaineers.<br>"My whole thinking behind all of this is that the continuity of government is essential during transitions. . . . When I took this job, I took this job to serve the people of West Virginia."<br>Justice said he doesn’t expect much to happen between Jan. 3 – when Congress is sworn in – and Jan. 20 – when President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated, but that in Charleston, many things might transpire.<br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/wv-lawmaker-arrested-after-threatening-kill-entire-regions-delegation-over-caucus-beef" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong>WV LAWMAKER ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING TO KILL ENTIRE REGION'S DELEGATION OVER CAUCUS BEEF</strong></a><br><span>Donald Trump shakes hands with West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, who announced during the rally that he would switch parties from Democrat to Republican, during a Make America Great Again Rally at Big Sandy Arena in Huntington, West Virginia.</span> <span>(Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)</span><br>West Virginia is one of seven states that does not have an independently-appointed or elected lieutenant governor. In Charleston, it is instead a statutory title given to the state Senate leader.<br>So, if Justicewere to join the U.S. Senate on-schedule, current state Senate President Craig Blair would initially assume the role. <br>However, Blair lost the GOP primary for his Martinsburg seat in April, and therefore leaves office on Jan. 8 when the new legislature is sworn in.<br>On Jan. 8, the newly-selected leader, Sen. Randy Smith from Tucker County, would assume the governorship until Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey took office on Jan. 13.<br>"Between January 3rd and when President Trump takes office, there'll be some things that happen, but there won't be anything happening [in the U.S. Congress] really until when President Trump takes office," Justice said Thursday.<br>"I'm in constant contact with President Trump about my feelings about his selections for his appointments, my feelings about where we're going to go on all kinds of issues like energy and on and on and on and everything," he added. <br><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-gop-celebrate-manchin-decision-not-seek-reelection-democrats-spike-football-yet" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><u>TRUMP, GOP CELEBRATE JOE MANCHIN RETIREMENT</u></strong></a><br><span>West Virginia Governor Jim Justice poses at his desk with his pet bulldog, Babydog.</span> <span>(Fox News Digital/Office of Governor Jim Justice)</span><br>"So, I don't think that there's anything there that is going to rise to the level of what could happen here [in my absence]."<br>Republicans also flipped the Senate by a comfortable-enough 53-47 margin that Justice’s absence will still allow a two-member buffer.<br>"I don't think that West Virginia needs to have four governors in 10 days," he said.<br>Justice said Thursday he made the decision after speaking about the situation with both the House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader-designate.<br>"Senator Thune is really a good man. He's going to do a great job as our leader and everything. And we had this discussion, and at the end of the day, I think you'll find that everyone totally understands the complexities and everything and totally understands [my decision]," Justice said.<br>Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.V., Justice’s counterpart next session, said she looks forward to serving with him and working together to advance Trump’s agenda.<br>"I very much respect Governor Justice’s decision to honor his commitment to complete his term as Governor of the State of West Virginia," she said in a statement.<br>"I believe this with all my soul," Justice further told reporters. "The people of West Virginia elected me to this office, and they expected me to do right by them always . . . t has been an honor beyond belief being their governor."<br><span>Travelers are greeted by a West Virginia welcome sign after crossing the East River Mountain Tunnel on I-77 in Princeton. (Charles Creitz)</span> <!----><br>A <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/west-virginia-governor-blames-politics-sudden-bank-auction-50m-resort-amid-key-senate-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">billionaire coal businessman</a> who also owns The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, Justice was originally elected as a Democrat but changed parties <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/west-virginias-democratic-governor-announces-switch-to-republican-party">during a 2017 rally</a> with Trump in his first term in Charleston – and was re-elected as a Republican.<br>Justice’s turn to the GOP and the <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media/joe-manchin-senate-seat-race-heats-up-jim-justice-jumps-in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retirement of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.V.</a>, completes a full shift from the blue state that for decades elected Sen. Robert Byrd and Rep. Nick Joe Rahall to a deep-red state that Democratic presidential candidates since Hillary Clinton have lost by double-digits.<br>Bearing the wait until Jan. 13, Justice reiterated, will be worth it because he loves Trump "with all my soul."<br>"I think the world of his family and everything. And I'm going to be there [and] super supportive of what he's doing. And we're going to try in every way to . . . put this nation back on the right track."<br>"The people of West Virginia will know exactly where I stand with them."<br>Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. <br>He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. <br>Charles covers <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/media" target="_blank">media</a>, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics" target="_blank">politics</a> and culture for Fox News Digital.<br>Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.<br>Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.<br>By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/terms-of-use">Terms of Use</a>, and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.<br>Subscribed<br> You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! <br> This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by <a href="https://www.factset.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_factset">Factset</a>. Powered and implemented by <a href="https://www.factset.com/solutions/business-needs/digital-solutions" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_factset_digital_solutions">FactSet Digital Solutions</a>. <a href="https://www.factset.com/privacy" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_factset_privacy">Legal Statement</a>. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by <a href="https://lipperalpha.refinitiv.com/" data-omtr-intcmp="footer_refinitive_info">Refinitiv Lipper</a>. <br><br><a href="https://news.google.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?oc=5">source</a>
