Gov. Jim Justice, Babydog and First Lady Cathy Justice greet reporters Tuesday night at the Governor’s Mansion following the GOP U.S. Senate primary being called for him. (Photo by Steven Allen Adams)

CHARLESTON — Confirming what many of the polls have been saying for more than a year, Republican and independent voters overwhelmingly showed their support for Gov. Jim Justice in Tuesday night’s GOP primary for the U.S. Senate, while Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott secured the Democratic nomination.

According to election results posted Wednesday on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website, Justice received 137,605 votes, or 61.85%, compared to U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va., who got 59,083 (26.55%).

The Associated Press called the election for Justice 50 minutes after the polls closed.

Justice – who is term-limited and wrapping up the final year of his second four-year term as governor – was at the Governor’s Mansion in Charleston Tuesday night watching the election returns with family, friends and supporters.

“I feel humbled,” Justice said. “I always call the voters ‘Toby and Edith,’ and Toby and Edith have spoken, and they spoke really loudly. … You know, we never put up one sign. And the reason for that is just really simple: The voters know me, and all I ask is that they judge me by my deeds. I couldn’t be more humbled.”

U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Glenn Elliott huddles with campaign treasurer Bernie Lombard to look over early results Tuesday night in Wheeling. (Photo by Derek Redd)

First elected as governor in 2016 as the Democratic nominee, Justice changed his registration to the Republican Party in 2017, announcing his party switch at a Huntington rally with then-President Donald Trump, who also endorsed Justice for U.S. Senate in a social media post last year and a video over the weekend. Justice easily won the GOP nomination and general election in 2020 for a second term as governor.

“President Trump’s endorsement is always really big,” Justice said. “I think I was the only person in the State of West Virginia that he endorsed. And really and truly, I don’t know how I could say anything except ‘Mr. President, I hope and pray with all my soul you win.'”

Mooney, a former Maryland state lawmaker and chairman of the Maryland Republican Party, first won election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 and is in his fifth term representing the 2nd Congressional District. Most recently, he defeated former 1st District Congressman David McKinley in the 2022 GOP primary when his district was combined with Mooney’s after redistricting caused the state to lose a congressional seat.

In a statement Tuesday night, Mooney said he called Justice to concede the primary election.

“While this race didn’t go as we hoped, I will continue fighting for our conservative West Virginia values,” Mooney said.

Within days of securing the 2022 general election, Mooney announced his run for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, with Justice announcing his candidacy in April 2023. Both were seeking to challenge U.S. Sen. Manchin, D-W.Va., who has served in the Senate since winning a 2010 special election to succeed the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.

But Manchin announced he would not seek reelection at the end of 2023, choosing to retire once he finishes his term at the end of this year.

In Tuesday’s Democratic primary for U.S. Senate, Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott received 45,955 votes, or 45.45%. Zachary Shrewsbury, a community organizer and progressive activist, came in second with 36,535 (36%) and Don Blankenship – the Republican-turned-Democrat and former CEO of Massey Energy – receiving 18,628 (18.42%).

Elliott was first elected as mayor of Wheeling in 2016 and is in his second and final term. After working as a legislative assistant for Byrd and for a large law firm, Elliott returned to Wheeling as an attorney and businessman. Manchin endorsed Elliott in a video message last month.

Speaking at a campaign event in Wheeling Tuesday night, Elliott acknowledged he will have a hill to climb to overcome the popularity of Justice and the electoral advantages the Republican Party has in the state. But he said he was ready for a challenge.

“I’ve heard all the Republican candidates say this is a safe Republican seat. I’ve heard all the experts, have heard all the pundits. But the proof is going to be in the pudding,” Elliott said. “I know for a fact I will outwork the governor by a factor of 10. You know, I think there are a lot of things that the national media and the statewide media need to look at in this race and not just assume it’s a safe Republican seat.”

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com