U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a maverick Democrat who has often bucked party leadership, told a radio station in his home state of West Virginia on Thursday that he is "thinking seriously" about leaving the party.
"I'm not a Washington Democrat," Manchin said in the interview on Talkline with Hoppy Kercheval, a West Virginia Metro News show. "I've been thinking seriously about that (becoming an independent) for quite some time."
Manchin and Democratic-turned-independent colleague Senator Kyrsten Sinema have been thorns in top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer's side since the party won its majority in 2020. Democrats hold a 51-49 majority, including three independents who caucus with them.
Last month Manchin further stirred Democratic concerns with an appearance in the early-voting state of New Hampshire with the "No Labels" group, where he mulled starting a third-party presidential campaign in 2024, challenging Democratic President Joe Biden. Having a third-party candidate would "threaten" the two major political parties, Manchin said.
Manchin has used his influence to block legislation that he opposes - including expanding voting rights protections and child tax credits - and to ensure passage of bills he supports, such as a major tax and climate law that passed last summer.
He faces a tough re-election bid next year in Republican-leaning West Virginia, which former President Donald Trump won by almost 39 percentage points in 2020. Manchin has not yet said if he will seek re-election, but he would face an even steeper road if he spurned his party and the fundraising support it can provide.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, a former Democrat-turned Republican, began his campaign in April for the Republican nomination to seek Manchin's seat.
Manchin, a popular former governor who was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, has kept his seat in part by maintaining a reputation as a rare conservative Democrat in Washington.
That's what I'm saying. Isn't this the state of Blair Mountain, John Brown's Raid, and October Sky?
Where's the neo Woody Guthrie coal miner's daughter type looking to run a grass roots campaign on justice for the opiate-pushing and transitioning fossil fuel work to sustainable energy? Someone who wants to bring stable, modern jobs to WV and revitalize it while protecting the natural splendor that tourists seek.
He's up for reelection in '24. Someone more sensible should primary this lump of coal. Gotta find that person and build that campaign though. And learn from Beto's mistakes.
Lmao Blair mountain was 102 years ago my guy. John Brown was 160 years ago. And October Sky is about one dude who became a rocket engineer. So not sure why that was included. You seriously think the political landscape of west Virginia hasn't changed in the last 100-160 years? You aren't going to find anyone better than manchin who stands a chance in west Virginia
Fetterman is 'one dude'. So is Ossoff. So is Warnock. You really think the political landscape of states can't change?
I've sat in the shade of trees older than 160yrs. I've got relatives pushing 100 (as is too much of Congress). That amount of time really isn't that long. Technology may have changed a lot but people are still basically the same.
I think that 'Manchin is the best we can hope for' is selling the people of WV short. As evidenced by their history: NASA rocket scientist (from a coal mining family), union fighters, abolitionists. And we certainly won't flip states like WV with defeatist mindsets.
Also, I'm not your guy, buddy.
One rocket scientist doesn't mean the entire state is good. I really don't understand your obsession with thinking west Virginia isn't a backwater state full of racists.
I mean shit your let's give them new job training is literally what clinton recommended And that shit was shut down hard by the people of west Virginia. Look at how they vote in every election. It's delusion to think we can flip them blue.
Who needs the entire state to be good? Who said they were?! 51%. That's it, that's all that's needed. You want to give up and let the Republicans have whatever they want? That's on you. I'm not giving up so easily.
You are right. We do need 51%. In 2020 there was a 65% turnout and Biden got just under 30%. Even if every one of the 35% of west Virginians who didn't vote were secret libs he still wouldn't have won. But hey. Good luck winning a statewide election with just under 30% of the voters on your side. Also are you on the ground in wva working with a progressive candidate? Because if not then you have given up and all your doing is complaining that the Dems aren't doing enough.
I'm not interested in running Joe Biden for senator of WV. See my initial comment for the type of candidate I believe could run a competitive race for Manchin's seat.
Also, your math doesn't check out.
Forget Blair Mountain.
WV is a state of company stores now, because 98% of the people there vote on team color and nothing else.
LOL at the Beto reference though. Didn't he vote something like 95% with Republicans when he had a seat?