Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced on Thursday that he will not be seeking reelection in 2024, but indicated that he will continue to be active in politics. In a video posted on X, Manchin stated, “I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life, and decided that I will not be running for reelection to the United States Senate. But what I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together.”
This decision poses a significant setback for Democrats, as Manchin, a centrist figure in a conservative state, was seen as crucial to their efforts to maintain a narrow majority in the Senate beyond 2024. Conversely, Republicans viewed Manchin as the primary obstacle to gaining control of the key seat.
Following Manchin’s announcement, National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Steve Daines expressed confidence, stating, “We like our odds in West Virginia.” However, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee believes that they have “multiple pathways to protect and strengthen our Senate majority and are in a strong position to achieve this goal.”
In an interview with CNBC, Manchin suggested that the presidential field is still open, emphasizing, “The people haven’t been able to speak yet.” Despite this, recent polls indicated that Manchin was trailing the state’s Republican governor, Jim Justice, by significant margins. Justice, who entered the Senate race in April, has emerged as a leading contender, with Rep. Alex Mooney also vying for the Republican Senate primary.
Throughout his career, Manchin has been reticent about his intention to seek another term, recognizing the challenges he would face. His state’s overwhelming support for former President Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020 also factored into this decision. Additionally, Manchin faced backlash from his party last year when he opposed a measure to lift the Senate’s 60-vote threshold and criticized aspects of President Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act.
Following his announcement, Manchin’s Republican colleagues praised him for his service, indicating that even though he is stepping down, there is still much work ahead. Sen. Mitt Romney stated that he will miss Manchin in the Senate, while Sen. Shelley Moore Capito thanked him for his years of service and acknowledged the ongoing challenges.
As this is a breaking news story, further updates are expected.
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