Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said Thursday he is “thinking seriously” about dropping his affiliation with the Democratic Party and becoming an independent.
Why it matters: Manchin has made a career out of proclaiming his independence from D.C. Democrats. But his latest comments have added significance, given his public flirtation with a possible third party presidential bid in 2024.
What he’s saying: “I’m thinking seriously,” Manchin told West Virginia radio host Hoppy Kercheval, adding, “I have to have peace of mind, basically. The brand has become so bad. The D brand and R brand … You’ve heard me say a million times, I am not a Washington Democrat.”
- Pressed on how seriously he is approaching the idea, Manchin said he has “been thinking about that for quite some time” and wants to “make sure that my voice is truly an independent voice.”
- Manchin said he hasn’t “made any decisions,” telling Kercheval, “When I get ready to make a decision, I’ll come see you.”
The backdrop: Manchin has been dropping hints for months that he may follow the lead of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.), who announced her switch to independent in December but still caucuses with Democrats.
- Asked about becoming an independent later that month during a CBS News interview, Manchin said, “I’ll let you know later what I decide to do, but right now I have no intention of changing anything.”
- There were rumors as far back as 2021 that Manchin may bolt the party – though he dismissed them then as “bull****.”
What we’re watching: Manchin faces an uphill reelection battle in a state that voted for former President Trump by nearly 40 percentage points in 2020. The frontrunner in the GOP primary for his seat is popular Gov. Jim Justice.
- Manchin has spent the last year distancing himself from President Biden and fellow Democrats, repudiating parts of the Inflation Reduction Act and even threatening to oppose Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency nominees.
- He may also decide to go another way. He headlined a New Hampshire town hall last month hosted by No Labels, a centrist group that is laying the groundwork for a potential third party presidential ticket.
No one has seriously considered Manchin to be a Dem for a while, so, good for him to get with the times
He loves yummmy dark GOP money
Hopefully Synema loses her reelection and all these idiots leaving the Democratic Party learn a real hard lesson.
Her move to leave was blatant self interest. Polls showed she was going to lose a primary in a landslide. She has no chance in hell of winning re-election. She’s just hoping to be a spoiler at this point.
I don’t think I’ve seen anything that predicts she has a chance in hell. I’m betting she moves on to guest host on Fox.
Yeah, they need a new liar now that fucker Carlson is gone.
He’s been voting republican for years. Wolf in sheeps clothing. Fuck the GOP. Fuck Manchin
The wolf tries and fails to charade as a sheep, manchin doesn’t try a charade he just plays lip service and everyone goes “uh huh, sure” and we move on.
The amount of people that don’t understand that Manchin prevented Mitch McConnell from being the speaker of the Senate is disappointing.
Actually, I think this is the only reason he hasn’t been hung by his testicles by the rest of the Democrat party. It is literally the one and only purpose he serves, as he’s been a massive roadblock to virtually all other meaningful legislation.
And what people understand is we still need him for that purpose.
Right now, the Senate is a 51/49 split. If Diane Feinstein kicks the bucket, Manchin and Sinema would literally decide who the Senate Majority leader is. Piss off Manchin and he votes for McConnell, and would you really trust Sinema not to flip votes in exchange for political favors?
Manchin may be almost singlehandedly stopping the Democrat agenda, but it’s at least better (Read: slightly less shitty) than stopping the Democrat agenda and installing McConnell as majority leader and sending us backwards.
please leave. we know how you vote already
Bernie Sanders has also “left the Democratic party”, he’s an independent who caucuses with Democrats.
If that’s what Manchin is considering, it probably makes him more electable in WV. If he’s voting with Democrats on most things like he is now, that sounds like a good thing.
I didn’t consider this. Good point.
Hes makin the joe lieberman circuit. I think Chris Coons is next in line to be the democrats scapegoat for not getting anything done.
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Ugh. Just get the fuck out already. He’s such a motherfucking piece of shit.
Yeah, well, fuck him now and later.
No don’t do that!
I thought he’d left already, or was that only in spirit?
Just go.l, Manchin. Your hatred of all that’s good makes you a Republikklan.
He would have to be incredibly stupid to do so. The only reason he has so much influence is because he’s the furthest right Democrat. The second he’s no longer a dem, he’s just another replaceable right-wing shit head.
Why he hasn’t been kicked out for blocking the alleged dem agenda every step of the way is a bit of a puzzle…until you put the pieces together to realize he’s expertly doing his job.
Because voting republican most of the time is better than all the time, Manchin is the most liberal person West Virginia would elect.
Yeah well, he represents the voter constituents in a state that is historically right leaning so I’d say I agree with you but I’m fairly sure you didn’t mean it that way.
Kicked out of what, the Democratic Party?
Yeah, let’s kick him out so now we have 49 votes in the Senate and can pass nothing, that’ll sure show him!
If not Manchin, Sinema. If not her, the senate parliamentarian. If not them, repugs will yell at us. If not that, anything they need, to not actually do a damn thing to materially improve the lives of working class people.
He won’t leave because then he’d have fuckal for power.
