PARKERSBURG – West Virginia’s only Democrat in Congress Wednesday endorsed a nominee for governor.

Sen. Joe Manchin issued a statement saying he endorses Jim Justice.

“There are three extremely capable candidates in the Democratic race for Governor, but I believe that Jim Justice is uniquely qualified to handle the major challenges that West Virginia is facing,” Manchin said. “I saw first-hand the ability, experience and vision Jim has when he stepped up and saved thousands of jobs in West Virginia. I believe this is the type of leadership we need to lead our state through the next four years.”

Justice is the billionaire businessman who owns The Greenbrier hotel in White Sulphur Springs. He is in a three-man contest for the Democratic Party nomination against Sen. Jeff Kessler, D-Marshall, and Booth Goodwin, a former United States attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia.

Manchin on Tuesday was in Parkersburg and Vienna and told reporters from The Parkersburg News and Sentinel he supported Justice, among other issues discussed with the newspaper.

The winner of the Democratic primary on May 10 will run against the apparent GOP nominee Sen. Bill Cole, president of the West Virginia Senate.

“As governor, Jim Justice will step to the plate and create opportunities for more jobs in West Virginia,” Manchin said. “That is why I am supporting Jim Justice for governor.”

The Justice campaign Wednesday morning issued a statement on the Manchin endorsement. Justice said it was an honor to have Manchin “on my team for this rocket ride to create jobs and transform West Virginia.”

“I worked with Joe when we helped save The Greenbrier and I could tell then that he loves this state as much as I do,” Justice said. “I thank the Senator for joining this team that has so much momentum, and I look forward to working with Joe to turn this state around and put our folks back to work.”

Justice has also been endorsed by former Gov. Gaston Caperton, the United Mine Workers, the West Virginia Education Association and an employee union at The Greenbrier.

Goodwin said the endorsement was not unexpected. Goodwin cited business relationships between Justice and Larry Puccio, who was named executive director of Manchin’s Country Roads PAC in January 2015.

“It’s not necessarily a surprise, given that connection,” Goodwin said.

Manchin in 2010, following the death of Sen. Robert C. Byrd, appointed Carte Goodwin, Booth’s cousin, as interim senator from West Virginia pending a special election to fill the vacancy.

Manchin won the special election.

Phone and email messages for a comment from Kessler were not immediately returned.