WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin has decided to bypass another run for governor of West Virginia and remain in the Senate.
Manchin (D-W.Va.) made his announcement on the CBS news show “Face the Nation” Sunday and later confirmed his decision in an interview with MetroNews.
“It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever had to make,” Manchin told MetroNews. “The governorship is a job I love very much. We had some great success working together, putting our state ahead of our politics.”
The Democrat, twice elected governor in his home state, resigned during his second term in 2010 when he was elected to serve out the remaining 14 months of the term of U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), who died earlier that year.
Manchin’s transition to Washington has been difficult at times and he has openly expressed his frustration with the glacial pace and partisan politics. Those factors caused him to seriously consider running again for the open governor’s seat in 2016.
Asked if at any point he was close to announcing for governor, he replied, “Oh yeah. I kept thinking that was a job that I really enjoyed. I thought we were able to give hope to the people of West Virginia. I enjoyed it so much.”
However, Manchin appears to have grown more comfortable in his federal post in recent months, and he maintains a strong relationship with U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), likely successor to the retiring U.S. Sen.Harry Reid (D-Nev.) as the Democratic leader in the Senate.
“(Schumer) will work with you and let you bring your ideas,” Manchin said. “We’ve had a great relationship.”
After mulling a gubernatorial run for months, Manchin said he consulted with his family before making a decision.
“We have an opportunity to really serve at a different level and bring common sense and camaraderie to Washington,” Manchin said. “If the country does well, then I guarantee West Virginia does well.”
Manchin will be up for Senate re-election in 2018.