Jim Justice is a generational West Virginia politician, which is ironic since he has spent his career in public office claiming he is not a politician.
The latest edition of the MetroNews West Virginia Poll found that 61 percent of West Virginians view the Republican U.S. Senator favorably. Only 23 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him. His numbers are significantly higher than any other statewide politician.
Additionally, when those same West Virginians were asked their opinion of the best governor in their lifetime, 32 percent named Justice. The next highest was Joe Manchin at 23 percent. Current governor Patrick Morrisey came in at nine percent.
Rex Repass, chief consultant for Research America, which conducted the poll, said the latest numbers reflect Justice’s continued popularity. “Over the years when we tracked Jim Justice’s performance in terms of his office that he’s holding at the time, it’s always been in the high 50s and low 60s,” said Repass.
How does Justice do that?
“He relates well to voters throughout the state in how he presents himself, how he talks about issues, and West Virginians see him as one of their own,” Repass said.
That is an enviable quality for a politician. When asked, voters typically say they choose a candidate based on political party or where they stand on the issue. However, a critical underpinning is how voters feel about a candidate.
That is particularly true in West Virginia. Former WVU President Gordon Gee often said, “If you love West Virginians, they will love you back.” That is how Jim Justice has approached politics, convincing voters that no one could love them more, look out for them more, than he can.
Chris Stirewalt, a former West Virginia political reporter who is now the politics editor for NewsNation, put it this way: “If you want to be loved as a politician, don’t lead. Listen to the voters and let them know they matter.”
Justice has also managed to overcome one of the biggest negatives for a politician—perceived self-interest. Pew Research found that two-thirds of American voters questioned believe that all or most individuals run for office to “make a lot of money.” Justice took no salary while governor and constantly said he wanted nothing for himself.
And don’t forget about Babydog. Seriously. The English bulldog was Justice’s constant sidekick during his second term as governor and now, according to the Washington Post, is a bipartisan hit. “She is known for her signature wagon rides through the Senate. She has a strong following across both parties,” the Post reported.
A lovable mascot softens the edges off of a politician. “She is so much more popular than I, and that’s okay with me,” said Justice. (We did not poll Babydog, but maybe we should have.)
We have reported on and opined frequently about the unrelenting financial issues with Justice family businesses. His non-payment or slow payment of bills is epidemic. Most voters either don’t care or are willing to overlook the myriad fiscal fiascos.
What most voters do know, at least according to our polling over the years, is that they like Jim Justice… a lot. And that is powerful political fuel, even for someone who claims he is not a politician.