Sen. Joe Manchin Thursday announced he won’t run for reelection in a major blow to Democratic hopes of retaining control of the Senate after the 2024 elections.
The coal country moderate was considered the only Democrat with any chance of holding the pivotal seat in deep-red West Virginia, leaving them with only the narrowest of paths to retain control of the upper chamber.
With Manchin’s seat off the board, Democratic incumbents would likely need to win tough battles for reelection in Montana and Ohio to win 50 seats, enough for a majority if President Biden can also win reelection.
Manchin, 75, said in a videotaped statement that he made the decision “after months of deliberation and long conversations” with his family.
“I believe in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia,” Manchin said. “I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life and decided that I will not be running for re-election.”
Manchin hinted that he is open to the idea of a political future as a moderate force in national politics.
“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,” said Manchin, without elaborating.
Democrats say any independent run for president would effectively help Trump beat President Biden in 2024.
A GOP win would likely catapult Minority Leader Mitch McConnell back into the driver’s seat, forcing aside dealmaker Sen. Chuck Schumer after four years in charge.
Next year’s election was already shaping up as a difficult one for Senate Democrats, who hold a 51-49 edge with the help of three independents who caucus with them.
Besides Manchin, Sens. Jon Tester (D-Montana) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) are both running for six more years in states that have trended red in recent years.
In Arizona, Democrats face a potentially tricky race because of the antics of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, a mercurial moderate who recently left the Democratic Party.
Adding to Democratic angst, there are only two Republican senators who are considered potentially vulnerable: Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Rick Scott.
Even before Manchin’s announcement, Republican challengers had already been lining up to run for the Senate seat that he barely held onto in 2018
Gov. Jim Justice is running and won the coveted endorsement of Trump. Rep. Alex Mooney (R-West Virginia) is also a candidate the GOP is running and Republican state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who unsuccessfully challenged Manchin in 2018, has hinted at jumping into the race.
Whoever the GOP nominates will be the prohibitive favorite to take the seat given that West Virginia voted for former President Donald Trump over President Biden by a more than 40% margin.
Dave Goldiner
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