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JJ
West Virginia•In office since 2017•Party: R

Jim Justice

Serving as Governor of West Virginia since 2017. Evaluation based on verified public data.

Overall GradeB
63.4 / 100
Ranked #22 of 50 nationally
At a glanceComputed from the data below — no opinions.
  • An overall grade of B places this governor in the above the national average — ranked #22 of 50.
  • In office 9 years — current results are fully attributable to this administration.
  • Since taking office, this governor has outpaced the national trend on 6 of 20 tracked metrics, lagged on 6, and moved with the country on 8.
  • Strongest area: Environment (A). Weakest: Health (F).
Category

Economy

100
62.7 / 100B
Unemployment Rate
B
4.3%
National avg 3.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 42 of 5016 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 5.0%
Category

Fiscal Health

211
54.1 / 100C+
State Debt per Capita
D+
$4,400
National avg $3,580
improving slower than US
Rank 39 of 5022 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $4,800
Rainy Day Fund
A+
22.0%
National avg 14.0%
improving faster than US
Rank 8 of 5087 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 15.0%
State & Local Tax Burden
C-
12.8%
National avg 11.2%
declining slower than US
Rank 43 of 5014 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 12.6%
Credit Rating
D+
78
National avg 90
on pace with US
Rank 48 of 505 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 78
Category

Education

010
60.6 / 100B-
High School Graduation Rate
B-
90.7%
National avg 87.0%
improving with US
Rank 6 of 5090 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 90.0%
Category

Health

044
27.6 / 100F
Age-Adjusted Mortality
F
625 / 100k
National avg 407 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 49 of 502 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 493 / 100k
Infant Mortality
D
7.087
National avg 5.628
improving slower than US
Rank 46 of 508 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 7.138
Adult Obesity
D
41.5%
National avg 33.5%
declining with US
Rank 50 of 500 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 36.3%
Adult Smoking
F
22.3%
National avg 13.2%
improving slower than US
Rank 50 of 500 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 24.8%
Suicide Rate
C-
20 / 100k
National avg 14 / 100k
declining with US
Rank 39 of 5022 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 19 / 100k
Life Expectancy
D
72.8 yrs
National avg 77.5 yrs
declining with US
Rank 49 of 502 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 74.1 yrs
Uninsured Rate (Under 65)
C
7.6%
National avg 8.6%
improving with US
Rank 22 of 5057 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 8.7%
Drug Overdose Death Rate
F
81 / 100k
National avg 34 / 100k
declining faster than US
Rank 50 of 500 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 52 / 100k
Category

Infrastructure

100
44.3 / 100C-
Bridges in Poor Condition
C-
18.0%
National avg 6.6%
improving faster than US
Rank 49 of 502 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 18.5%
Category

Opportunity

021
36.7 / 100D
Food Insecurity
C-
15.0%
National avg 13.5%
declining with US
Rank 42 of 5017 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 14.6%
Poverty Rate
D+
16.7%
National avg 11.5%
improving with US
Rank 47 of 506 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 17.9%
Median Household Income
F
$55,217
National avg $74,580
improving slower than US
Rank 49 of 502 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom $43,469
Category

Public Safety

100
69.2 / 100B+
Violent Crime Rate
B+
322 / 100k
National avg 380 / 100k
improving faster than US
Rank 21 of 5059 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 358 / 100k
Category

Environment

100
82.5 / 100A
Drinking Water Violations
A
49.1%
National avg 44.9%
improving faster than US
Rank 29 of 4942 pct
Pace vs national trendfrom 61.8%

How this grade is built

Each metric gets two scores: where the state ranks among all 50 states (30%) and how its pace compared to the national trend during this governor's tenure (70%). Metric scores are averaged within eight equally-weighted pillars — Economy, Fiscal Health, Education, Health, Infrastructure, Opportunity, Public Safety, Environment — then the composite is curved across the cohort so grades spread A–F.

Full methodology →