Babydog sits in a chair onstage during the Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. (Joshua Lott/The Washington Post)
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) was just a few seconds into his address at the packed Republican National Convention when people in the audience began chanting, softly at first — then thunderously. And they weren’t chanting his name.
“Babydog! Babydog! Babydog!” the crowd yelled, drowning out Justice’s words at the Milwaukee gathering. Justice knew what the convention wanted: his 60-pound English bulldog. And Babydog seemed to know this was her moment.
“I know that a lot of you want to meet my little buddy,” he said, to raucous cheers and applause. “So if Babydog could come on out here.”
Babydog, the tan and white bulldog with stubby ears and legs, was then placed on a black leather chair next to Justice, taking in the adoring crowd.
“As the world watches, you didn’t really expect that did you?” Justice joked, as Babydog sat panting next to him.
“She makes us smile, and she loves everybody,” he said of Babydog — before suggesting that is a message that everyone could get behind. “How could your message possibly be any more simpler than just that?”
Before she stole the show at the national convention, Babydog was already somewhat of a celebrity in West Virginia politics.
She has often accompanied Justice on the floor of the state Senate. Her likeness is even featured in a recently painted mural alongside Abraham Lincoln, Appalachian folk instruments and other cultural symbols in the state Capitol, highlighting her local popularity.
According to Babydog’s official social media account on X, her favorite things are: “Jim Justice, Wendy’s nuggets, riding shotgun in dad’s Suburban, and napping.”
After her convention appearance, her account thanked her growing fan base in a post: “I enjoyed meeting so many of you at the GOPconvention! Thank you for the treats, the pets, and all the photos!”
Justice, 73, is heavily favored to win a Senate seat in deep-red West Virginia. He is serving his second term as governor and is term-limited from seeking a third.
A businessman and member of a prominent coal mining family, Justice was first elected to the office in 2016 — as a Democrat — and switched to the Republican Party in August 2017. He was endorsed in the Senate race by Trump, as well as more establishment Republicans such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), and by the National Republican Senatorial Committee.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Babydog was named by Justice as the “official mascot of vaccination sweeps,” running a campaign tagged, “Do it for Babydog,” as he encouraged West Virginians to get vaccinated. “She wants you vaccinated so badly,” a statement on the official website said.
Babydog was a gift to Justice’s children in 2019, according to the Associated Press. The Justice family also has two other (and lesser known) dogs named Lucy and Ellie, both Boston terriers.
Babydog remains seated during Gov. Jim Justice's speech on Tuesday night. (Ricky Carioti/The Washington Post)
But it’s Babydog who seems to have embraced fame. Justice’s campaign fundraising website features the portly dog wearing yellow goggles and sitting in a yellow trailer. It describes her as “the pawsitively adorable companion and staunch supporter of Jim Justice’s senatorial campaign for West Virginia.” It also advertises Babydog merch available for sale, including T-shirts, mugs and stickers of the dog.
In 2022, Babydog also made headlines when Justice — responding to a tweet by actress Bette Midler calling West Virginia “poor, illiterate and strung out” — hoisted Babydog upside down and announced: “Babydog tells Bette Midler and all those out there: Kiss her heinie.”
Justice and Babydog were followed at the convention by Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), a staunch Trump ally, who acknowledged the star power of his predecessor onstage.
“I don’t know about you, but thank God Babydog’s a Republican!” he said to cheers and laughter.
