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West Virginia's governor is switching parties tonight at a rally with Trump

Aug 4, 2017, 01:47 IST

Gov. Jim Justice in his office in West Virginia.(AP Photo/Steve Helber)

West Virginia's Democratic governor is leaving the Democratic Party and joining the Republican party on Thursday.

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The New York Times reported that Jim Justice, the Democratic former businessman, will join President Donald Trump at a rally tonight in Huntington, where he will announce that he is switching parties.

This isn't the first time Justice has jumped parties - he was a Republican until just before launching his run for governor in 2015.

The governor has also made no secret of his affinity for Trump.

Justice has referred to Trump as a family friend, and occasionally texts and hunts with Trump's son Eric Trump. During a campaign debate last year, he sparred with Republican candidate Bill Cole over who was personally closer to Trump.

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The move makes Sen. Joe Manchin the last major Democratic Party leader in the state and leaves Democrats with just 15 governorships.

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