There was major political news in West Virginia on Monday, as businessman Jim Justice formally announced his intention to run for Governor of West Virginia. Justice was strongly considering campaigning for the office earlier this year, and made his announcement in White Sulphur Springs.

Justice has a history of revitalizing areas of Southern West Virginia, particularly in Greenbrier County. In 2009, the philanthropist and coal mine owner bought the historic Greenbrier Resort, laying down a foundation for the area to attract marquee events. In 2015, the resort will host the PGA Tour’s Greenbrier Classic, the New Orleans Saints’ summer training camp, and will open a new tennis court with a christening match featuring legends Andre Agassi & Pete Sampras.

Justice, whose net worth is currently 1.7 billion dollars (making him the richest man in West Virginia), will be running as a member of the Democratic Party. The Mountain State has had Democratic governors since 2001, the last Republican to serve being Cecil Underwood from 1997-2001. Also, from 1959 to 2015, West Virginia had two Democrats serving in the U.S. Senate; Republican Shelly Moore Capito was elected in 2014 in a race that helped the GOP take control of the Senate for the first time since 2006. In the U.S. House, there are three Republicans from the Mountain State for the first time since the state was given its current allocation of three seats. Both chambers of the West Virginia state legislature have a GOP majority.

There have many issues surrounding the candidate, primarily his not paying two million dollars in mine safety fines. Justice owns 70 active mines in the region, and while his philanthropy has won him many fans, he also has numerous critics because of his handling of mine safety issues. The NPR report linked above says there were delinquent mines that committed 4,000 violations in regards to mine safety.

Justice is the second Democrat to officially announce his candidacy for Governor, joining West Virginia Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler. Several Republicans have expressed serious interest in running, but none have formally declared yet.

Whoever wins the gubernatorial election in November 2016 will succeed Earl Ray Tomblin in 2017.