Why did Jim Justice switch from the GOP to the Dems in the first place?

[Ken Burch]

The guy had had no previous identification with the party before he ran

In a time when the WV Dems are still in long-term decline, switching to the D's to run for governor seems almost irrational.

And how the heck did he win the Democratic primary? Was it just by outspending everybody else?

It almost looks as though he switched when he ran just to set up a future media moment when he'd switch BACK.

Do you guys find this whole thing as confusing as those of us from out of state?

[Cicada]

1. He couldn't get the Republican nomination

So he ran as a Democrat. Leon Panetta crossed Nixon on civil rights so he could not get a Republican nomination for elected office so he became a Democrat. Same thing.

And ironically Panetta was a great asset for the Democrats.

[Ken Burch]

4. Did not know that about Panetta.

Thank you for the explanation of that and of the question from my OP.

[TexasTowelie]

2. Go a few threads down in the West Virginia Group

and get the explanation from the governor. I don't see the point for any conjecture.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10831200

[NurseJackie]

7. Thank you! Real-world facts are always better than conjecture.

Whenever possible, I try Google before asking questions... for obvious reasons.

[Me.]

3. Bernie Made Him?

[NurseJackie]

8. Sounds reasonable... all things considered.

[Me.]

9. Yeppers

[atreides1]

5. This article might explain it

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-09/trump-is-said-to-be-really-interested-in-coal-payments

"West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said Donald Trump is “really interested” in his plan to prop up Appalachian mining by giving federal money to power plants that burn the region’s coal."

[doc03]

6. Ding Ding Ding you got it. The Wheeling WV paper this morning said it

would give eastern coal $2.5 billion. Who is a coal operator and the richest man in WV? Governor Jim Justice.
I can't post story because I would have to subscribe to the Republican rag to do that.