Senator Joe Manchin III, a staunch conservative from West Virginia, has officially changed his party registration to independent. This move marks the end of a long and increasingly strained relationship with the Democratic Party. While Manchin has announced his retirement at the end of his term, speculation continues about his political future.
Manchin has stated he will not seek re-election to the Senate or run for governor again, despite holding the governor’s office for two terms. However, the deadline for independent candidates in West Virginia is August 1, leaving the door open for a potential run.
If he chooses to run again, Manchin would face a formidable opponent in Jim Justice, the current Republican governor who switched from the Democratic Party and enjoys considerable popularity in the state. Justice’s entry into the Senate race is seen as a significant factor in Manchin’s initial decision not to seek re-election, potentially making a Manchin exit a guarantee of a Republican win, thereby endangering the Democrats’ slim Senate majority.
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Manchin has long expressed dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party’s leftward shift, often vocalizing his frustration with the lack of room for centrists, and it seems more likely that if he did decide to continue his political career, he would run against a liberal rather than a conservative. He has been critical of both major parties, citing their failure to compromise and putting partisan extremism over the country’s needs. In his statement, Manchin emphasized his commitment to putting the country before party politics, declaring his registration as an independent to better represent the “sensible majority” of Americans.
Manchin addresses the change-up in a recent Twitter post:
WATCH: Let’s work together to fix America. Don’t hate the other side. There’s only one side – the American side – and we have to work together to save our country. That’s why I changed my party registration to no party affiliation. pic.twitter.com/Q0w6y0tKDb
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) May 31, 2024
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By switching to independent, Manchin joins Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Angus King of Maine, who also caucus with the Democrats despite their independent status.
Throughout his tenure, Manchin has been a pivotal figure in the Senate, often at odds with his Democratic colleagues over progressive legislation. Yet, he has also played a crucial role in passing significant laws during President Biden’s administration, including a historic investment in clean energy.
Manchin first joined the Senate in 2010, winning a special election following the death of Senator Robert C. Byrd. Known for his bipartisan efforts, Manchin’s houseboat, Almost Heaven, has become a well-known gathering spot for senators from both sides of the aisle.
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So—- he changed to independent. He will STILL caucus and vote with the demonrats! If he really wanted to make a difference, he would have gone to the Republican side! Going independent is a cop out, because he won’t change his votes, he will still cave to Schumer, like he always has, and vote the way schumer wants. So, it doesn’t change a damned thing! He is and always has been demonrat, and will continue to be. He thinks going independent will take the heat off him, it won’t, it just shows how weak he is!