Senator Joe Manchin, a moderate Democrat from West Virginia, has indicated that he might leave his party and instead pursue an Independent candidacy or run for president under a third-party ticket in the upcoming 2024 election. Senator Manchin is among a group of Democratic senators, including Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who regularly vote against the policies endorsed by President Joe Biden and other more progressive senators.
Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin hints he might abandon Democrats ahead of 2024 https://t.co/SUxHkMHuk0
— Patriot Alerts (@alerts___) May 3, 2023
Senator Manchin is well-known for his work towards bipartisanship, particularly in relation to significant issues like the Inflation Reduction Act. He has achieved this through collaborating with members from both sides of the political spectrum. Senator Manchin has also emphasized his association with No Labels, a centrist political group that is dedicated to securing ballot access in all 50 states, thereby enabling third-party candidates to run in presidential elections.
According to a report from NPR, a non-profit organization is seeking to raise around $70 million to collect signatures and meet the requirements for the 2024 ballots in multiple states. So far, the organization has obtained access in Arizona, Colorado, Alaska, and Oregon. When Senator Manchin was asked if he would be willing to run for president under the No Labels banner, he responded by saying that people are eager to cooperate and work together.
Although Senator Manchin has yet to declare his intentions for the upcoming election year, he faces a formidable opponent in the form of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, who recently announced his candidacy for the Senate race. Alongside Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), Justice is one of the Republican Party’s best hopes for a victory in the Senate. Polls indicate that Justice is the only Republican candidate currently ahead of Manchin, with a 64% approval rating that reflects his popularity among Republicans, Democrats, and Independents in his role as governor.
It seems that Governor Jim Justice may pose the greatest challenge to Senator Manchin in the Senate race, as the former’s popularity rating is 24% higher. With Justice’s entry into the race, there is speculation that Manchin may opt to avoid a close and potentially difficult battle and instead explore the possibility of running for president.
There is evidence to suggest that Senator Manchin may be contemplating a run for the presidency as a third-party candidate, given that he has intensified his criticism of President Joe Biden. He has even suggested that he could side with Republicans to overturn the Inflation Reduction Act, citing the administration’s failure to follow through on its commitment to new fossil fuel investments, including a pipeline in West Virginia.
In the past, Senator Manchin has suggested that he may depart from the Democratic Party due to a growing desire for moderation among Americans. He believes that voters are tired of the constant bickering and fighting between parties and that it’s time to focus on working together for the good of the country. His message is clear: let’s put aside our differences and get things done.
While Manchin has not officially announced his decision, it is likely he will keep an eye on Justice’s polling in the later months of 2023 before announcing his next steps. As of now, Manchin’s plans for 2024 remain a mystery, but his decision could potentially have a significant effect on the political landscape of the United States.