West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice Wins Second Term After Two Teacher Strikes and Charter School Bill In First Four Years

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West Virginia Governor Jim Justice has effortlessly secured a second term in office, despite facing two teacher strikes and a controversial bill that authorized the establishment of charter schools in the state.

Both the New York Times and Associated Press have declared Justice as the winner, largely due to pre-election surveys that indicated him leading Democratic opponent Ben Salango, a county commissioner in Kanawha County, the largest county in the state, by a margin of 18 or more points.

Vote counts just before 9:30 p.m. indicate that Justice has garnered over 62 percent of the votes.

Aged 69, Justice initially won the governorship in 2016 as a Democrat before switching to the Republican Party less than a year later and pledging support to President Donald Trump. As a billionaire in the coal industry, Justice’s business affairs have frequently been embroiled in legal disputes and controversies surrounding delayed payments.

Education was a contentious issue during his first term, as teachers went on strike twice in pursuit of better salaries. Just a few years ago, teachers in West Virginia had the second-lowest average pay in the country, prompting the strikes. Justice initially proposed a mere 1 percent pay raise, which further fueled the strikes. Eventually, the teachers succeeded in securing two five percent raises through the strikes that took place in 2018 and 2019.

Justice also signed a bill last year authorizing the establishment of charter schools in the state. Previously, he had been cautious about implementing charter schools and had suggested a pilot program before ultimately signing the bill that permits their establishment in the current year.

His campaign website emphasizes the need to "empower parents with options that best suit their children’s needs."

Recently, teachers filed a lawsuit against Justice regarding his utilization of a color-coded map to determine COVID-19 cases and associated risks, which in turn influences the reopening of schools. The West Virginia Education Association accused Justice of manipulating the ratings by altering the factors used multiple times to achieve desired outcomes.

On October 23, a judge dismissed the request for an injunction raised in connection with the lawsuit.

Discover our extensive coverage of the 46 races that have the potential to revolutionize America’s educational system in the aftermath of the Election Day. Stay informed about state policies and the difficulties faced by students during the pandemic by subscribing to Newsletter.