Jim Justice’s Dog, Babydog, Rudely Banned From Senate Floor

These days in the Senate, there are some incoming lawmakers whose personal brand does not fit with decorum. From the 2022 class, there is Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, whose hoodies and big-ass shorts were anathema to his colleagues. After a few months of this indignity, they passed a bipartisan resolution last year to make him wear pants to work.

This year, we have incoming West Virginia Republican Jim Justice. Like many exceptionally rich people, Justice, who inherited a coal empire from his father, likes to bring his dog everywhere he goes. The dog, a 60-pound English bulldog named Babydog, was Justice’s mascot while he was West Virginia’s governor, with recent appearances on the campaign trail and at the Republican National Convention. But on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. — where new senators just arrived for orientation — Justice was rudely informed by Senate-floor staffers that he could not bring Babydog on the Senate floor.

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Babydog are getting ready for their prime-time appearance at tonight’s RNC. pic.twitter.com/Hs2SOXuQQI

— Jason Calvi (@JasonCalvi) July 16, 2024

Axios reports that floor staffers told Justice that service dogs are the only animals allowed in legislative sessions — and only after what the outlet describes as “an analysis on potential allergies.” Justice did not respond to requests for comment about his dog, which, unlike other famous D.C. dogs, does not have a history of biting Secret Service agents. Thankfully, though, Babydog shouldn’t suffer from too much separation anxiety, as several senators are allowed to keep pet-friendly offices.