West Virginia’s Republican Gov. Jim Justice is gearing up to launch a 2024 Senate campaign this week, mounting a possible challenge to Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in one of the country’s most important Senate races, a Republican source close to the governor told CNBC on Monday.
Justice is set to make the announcement Thursday at 5 p.m. ET at The Greenbrier, his luxury hotel in White Sulphur Springs, the source said, confirming earlier reporting by Politico. The event is taking place on Justice’s 72nd birthday.
The long-anticipated move by Justice, who switched parties in 2017 and has since become one of the deep-red state’s most popular politicians, could further imperil Democrats’ efforts to keep their slim 51-49 majority in the Senate.