Senate Democrats seize on reports Jim Justice 'largely absent' as West Virginia governor

On Monday, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee sent a letter to his team stating its intention to sue for the two-term governor's schedule. Back in March, the DSCC issued a records request, but his office rejected it.“Jim Justice cannot hide his work schedule, or lack thereof, from West Virginians, and this is an area which is sure to receive further scrutiny in his nasty primary,” DSCC spokesman David Bergstein said in a statement.

The DSCC flagged multiple reports about the governor keeping a light schedule, including a 2019 Associated Press piece claiming that he was “largely absent" from the job. At the time, Justice and his team countered that the official schedule does not reflect the full scope of his gubernatorial duties.

"The calendar that you got through your FOIA request is used by my staff to try to keep straight my crazy schedule as governor, which can sometimes change by the minute and because of this, there are times where all the good work we’re doing never makes it onto the calendar,” his office said at the time.

Justice announced his candidacy for the Senate last month. Republicans are bullish that he can unseat Sen. Joe Manchin , who has not yet revealed his 2024 plans. Polls have shown Justice topping Manchin, who has also publicly kept a presidential run on the table.Given the Democrats' wafer-thin, 51-49-seat majority in the Senate, West Virginia will be a prime target for the GOP as it seeks to recapture the upper chamber.

Senate Democrats find themselves on the defense heading into 2024, forced to protect 23 seats, three of which are held by Democratic-aligned independent senators. Republicans only have to defend 11.

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