Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) announced on May 31 that he has left the Democratic Party and become an independent.
“My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation,” Mr. Manchin wrote in a post on social media platform X, showing a picture of himself with what appeared to be a voter registration form.
“I have seen both the Democrat and Republican parties leave West Virginia and our country behind for partisan extremism while jeopardizing our democracy. Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground.”
Mr. Manchin’s departure from the party doesn’t change Democrat control of the Senate.
He joins Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), both of whom caucus with the Democrats.
Mr. Manchin, who has been in the Senate since November 2010, has been critical of President Joe Biden, particularly regarding his green energy policies, despite voting for the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, which included aggressive climate action measures.
He was key in preventing the Democrats from abolishing the filibuster, which requires 60 votes for most legislation to proceed to a final vote in the Senate.
Mr. Manchin, 76, explored a possible third-party run.
“The system right now is not set up for [it]. [In] the long game, maybe we can make a third-party viable, where it has a process and opportunity. Right now, it’s very challenging,” he said.
“And I’m not going to be a deal-breaker, if you will, spoiler, whatever you want to call it. I just don’t think it’s the right time.”
He has declined to endorse President Biden’s reelection campaign.
“I’m not endorsing anybody right now. We’re going to see what all happens,” Mr. Manchin told CNN on Feb. 19.
“I’ve had this conversation with him and with his people that he’s gone too far to the left. They’ve pushed him and pulled him, and whatever. But that’s not where America is. That’s not where our country is,” he said.
“I’m hoping the Joe Biden that we saw in 2020 will be the Joe Biden we see in 2024 if that can be done. If not, it’s going to be a long road for everybody.”
Mr. Manchin declined to run for reelection this year, and his seat is expected to flip to the GOP with the election of West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice.
“After months of deliberation and long conversation with my family, I believe in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I have set out to do for West Virginia,” Mr. Manchin said.
Earlier this year, Mr. Manchin passed on a presidential run.
“I will not be seeking a third-party run,” he said in West Virginia.
“I will be involved in making sure that we secure a president that has the knowledge and has the passion and has the ability to bring this country together.”
Mr. Manchin announced in May that he wouldn’t run for governor of West Virginia, a position he held between January 2005 and November 2010.
“My support is with Steve Williams,” he said, referring to the Democratic nominee who will take on West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, in November.
