CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appointed his wife to the state school board about a day after a decisive victory in a U.S. Senate race against his Democratic opponent.

Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV) won the West Virginia Senate race on Tuesday to succeed outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV), handing Republicans a major victory in their quest for control of the upper chamber. The Associated Press called the race for Justice at 7:30 PM ET,

The G.O.P. governor easily won the seat being vacated by Senator Joe Manchin III, an independent who caucused with Democrats, giving Republicans an expected win as they push to take the Senate.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice won his state’s Senate race, flipping a crucial seat for the Republican party. Soon after voting concluded, the Associated Press projected him as the winner over Democrat Glenn Elliott.

Jim Justice has won the West Virginia Senate race, defeating former Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott (D) and accomplishing a long-sought GOP goal in the Appalachian state: total control of its federal offices.

Republican Jim Justice has won West Virginia’s open U.S. Senate race, the AP projects, flipping a key Senate seat that was held by Joe Manchin for 14 years.

The seat was left largely uncontested by Democrats after Sen. Joe Manchin announced last year he would not seek reelection.

Popular Gov. Jim Justice (R) rolled to an easy victory to pick up retiring Sen. Joe Manchin’s (I) seat in West Virginia, marking the first time Republicans have won the seat since the 1950s. He defeated little-known Democratic challenger Glenn Elliott,

NBC News projects the state's Republican governor Jim Justice flipped the seat currently held by Democratic-turned-independent Joe Manchin, who is retiring.

West Virginia First Lady Cathy Justice is the newest member of the West Virginia Board of Education. First Lady Justice was appointed to the position by her husband Governor and Senator-Elect Jim Justice.