Machin Comments On Request
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin is considering a last-ditch effort to hold onto his Senate seat by running as an independent. This idea was reportedly discussed in a conversation between Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. While Manchin has said this is a highly unlikely scenario, he has not completely ruled out the possibility.
According to a statement from Manchin, “I think that’s a long, long, long-shot scenario. So I don’t anticipate that happening. I don’t anticipate running.” However, when pressed on if this meant the door was completely closed, Manchin replied, “I don’t know if anything in Washington, DC, is 100%.”
Democratic leaders are said to be supportive of this idea if Manchin were to change his mind, as his presence in the race would make it more difficult for the seat to flip to Republican control. National Republicans would likely be forced to divert resources from other top targets in order to compete with Manchin’s formidable presence.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has reportedly even brought up this scenario while speaking to donors. A spokesperson for Schumer declined to comment on the matter.
The potential for Manchin to run as an independent has gained traction as a potential solution if the Democratic nominee in West Virginia ends up being Don Blankenship, a controversial former coal mining executive who served a year in jail. Blankenship, who ran as a Republican in 2018 but lost in the Senate primary, has since switched parties and is now running in the Democratic primary to fill Manchin’s seat.
The belief among Manchin’s allies is that if Blankenship were to become the Republican nominee and face off against Governor Jim Justice, the front-runner for the GOP nomination, Manchin would have a path to victory with a plurality of voters. Manchin has until August 1 to make a decision and file as an independent candidate.
Senate Democratic Campaign Committee Chair Gary Peters of Michigan has expressed openness to the idea of Manchin running as an independent. In an interview with CNN, Peters said, “He’s a great senator. … But it’s going to be up to him to decide.”
Manchin, who is 76 years old, announced in April that he would not be seeking reelection or running for the White House as part of a third-party ticket. He has also stated that his focus remains on working with his daughter on a new super PAC aimed at promoting centrist politics. When asked about the potential for Blankenship to become his opponent and how that could potentially impact his plans, Manchin said he would wait to see how the May 14 primary plays out.
Manchin made it clear that he wants to see someone who has a passion for the state of West Virginia representing the state in the Senate. He stated, “I understand the scenario. I want my state to be represented properly by someone who has a passion for our state. So we just have to see what unfolds. Really – after the primary … it’ll tell you a lot more.”