Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said he will not run for re-election, ending speculation about his plans next year and heightening uncertainty over whether Democrats can retain control of the Senate.
“I deeply believe that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia,” Manchin said in a video statement on social media. “I made one of the most difficult decisions of my life and decided not to run for re-election.”
His exit from the race quickly led to speculation that he would launch a presidential bid by the group No Labels, which is preparing the possibility of endorsing a third party next year. This raised major concerns among Democrats that such an offer would shift the vote from Joe Biden to Donald Trump should both win their party’s nominations.
“We must take America back and not allow this divisive hatred to drive us further apart,” Manchin said.
He added: “Public service drives me every day and continues to drive me. This is the promise I made to my father over forty years ago, and I intend to keep that promise until the day I die.”
No Labels released a statement praising Manchin. They said they would make a decision in early 2024 “whether we will nominate a Unity presidential ticket and who will be there.”
Manchin faced a tough re-election battle in West Virginia, which has become more solidly Republican during his tenure. The state’s current governor, Jim Justice, changed his party affiliation from the Democratic to the Republican Party in 2019. Justice announced earlier this year that he would seek to flip the state Senate seat and recently won the support of former President Donald Trump in the election. GOP primary.
Manchin has been in the Senate since 2010 and was elected to the seat once held by Robert Byrd. Manchin served as the state’s governor from 2004 to 2010.
Manchin, a centrist, has often been the remaining voice preventing Senate Democrats from advancing parts of President Joe Biden’s agenda. In his video, he said he “put country before party” and “worked across the aisle” to find common ground. “This approach often got me into trouble, but the struggle to unite us was definitely worth it,” he said. However, Manchin was a key figure in passing the Inflation Reduction Act, the climate and health care package that passed last year after lengthy negotiations with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
There is more to come.
Source: Deadline
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
