West Virginia’s governor switches political parties just hours before a rally with President Trump

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV - JULY 31: Jim Justice, owner of The Greenbrier Resort, applauds on the 18th tee during the final round of The Greenbrier Classic at The Old White TPC on July 31, 2011 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)

Ahead of a Thursday rally with President Trump, it was revealed that West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice intended to switch his political affiliation from Democrat to Republican.

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The Hill reports that the switch was confirmed by a senior Republican operative. The decision appears to be supported by several in the state party, including Rep. Evan Jenkins, who himself made a similar switch from the Democrat Party to the Republican Party.

Justice is the state’s only billionaire and is the chief executive officer to several companies in the coal industry.

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A few hours before the news, Trump promised to have a “very big announcement” at the West Virginia rally.

Trump won West Virginia in the 2016 election with 68 percent of the vote. Justice and other Democrats revoked any support for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after she said that she would “put a lot of coal and coal companies out of business.”

“The reason I can’t be [a Clinton supporter] is her position on coal is diametrically, completely wrong in many, many different ways,” he said.

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