West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s dog, Babydog, sits on a chair on stage before the Republican National Convention, July 16, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo)
CHARLESTON — Capitalizing off of the popularity of Babydog, Gov. Jim Justice’s English bulldog, associates of the governor are starting a federal leadership political action committee in her name.
The name “Babydog’s Almost Heaven PAC” was registered Monday with the Federal Election Commission by James T. Miller, the treasurer for Justice’s U.S. Senate campaign and an official involved with several of Justice’s businesses, including the Greenbrier Sporting Club. The leadership PAC lists Justice as a sponsor.
Babydog has become a minor political celebrity both inside West Virginia and inside the Beltway. Babydog, first brought to the state’s attention in early 2021, became the face of the state’s COVID-19 vaccination effort and a frequent companion of the governor at official events, including his annual State of the State address.
Justice had Babydog at his side when speaking at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last month, where he expressed his support for former Republican President Donald Trump as the party’s nominee for president in November against then-candidate President Joe Biden.
“I know that a lot of you want to meet my little buddy,” Justice told the convention crowd. “She makes us smile and she loves everybody, and how could the message possibly be any more simpler than just that.”
Babydog’s Almost Heaven PAC is a leadership PAC, which is used to raise money and donate to other political candidates. Donations to leadership PACs are capped at a maximum of $5,000, regardless of if an individual has already donated the maximum to the sponsoring candidate’s campaign according to a description of leadership PACs by Open Secrets,
“Contributions from both Democratic and Republican leadership PACs have climbed since the 1990s,” according to an article by Emily Kennard in 2023 for Open Secrets. “From 1990 to 1998, election cycles saw an average of about $6.12 million in contributions from these PACs. In 2022, leadership PACs contributed almost $91.3 million.
“Historically, Republican leadership PACs have far outspent Democratic ones. But in both 2020 and 2022, Democratic and Republican leadership PACs contributed almost identical amounts to candidates in their parties,” Kennard continued. “Republican leadership PACs gave $39 million to Democratic leadership PACs’ $37.4 million in 2020 and $38.5 million to Democrats’ $37.8 million in 2022.”
Other state and federal elected officials and candidates have leadership PACs. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the GOP candidate for governor, has the Blue and Gold Fund. U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va. — who came in second to Justice in the May primary for U.S. Senate – has Americans for Legislating Excellence PAC. U.S. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va. — whose seat Justice is seeking after Manchin announced his retirement last year – has Country Roads PAC. U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., has Wild and Wonderful PAC.
Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com
