Sen. Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) was officially sworn into his seat on Monday, putting Republicans closer to having their full 53-member majority.
Justice was sworn in by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), the chamber’s pro tempore and was joined by Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).
He delayed his swearing in until West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrissey (R) officially took over as his successor in Charleston.
If the ex-governor had been sworn in on Jan. 3 alongside his fellow freshman class members, that would have triggered a stretch that would have seen four governors in a 10-day span — something he was keen to avoid.
Republicans, once again, have 52 senators in the conference. The Senate GOP lost a member on Friday when Vice President-elect Vance officially resigned from the upper chamber ahead of next week’s inauguration.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) is expected to name Vance’s replacement in the coming days, which would bring the GOP conference to its full 53-member majority.
Justice is replacing former Sen. Joe Manchin (I-W.Va.), who retired ahead of what would have been a difficult reelection race in the deep red state, after overwhelmingly winning his race in November.
