WASHINGTON — While less popular than he was one year ago, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., has one of the highest approval ratings among his Senate colleagues, according to a poll released Tuesday.
Morning Consult reported in its Senator Approval Rankings that Manchin has the 20th highest approval rating among senators with a 52 percent approval rating among registered West Virginia voters and a 36 percent disapproval rating.
The survey was conducted between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, in which the U.S. Congress passed tax overhaul legislation. Manchin voted against the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
In Morning Consult’s April rankings, Manchin had a 57 percent approval rating and 33 percent disapproval rating. The senior senator had a 53 percent approval rating and 36 percent disapproval rating in the October report.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito held a 48 percent approval rating from the October rankings, and her disapproval rating decreased from 36 percent to 34 percent. Yet Capito had a 59 percent approval rating and 26 percent disapproval rating nine months ago, with the largest approval rate decrease occurring when the Senate attempted to repeal and replace President Barack Obama’s health care law in the summer.
Between the July and October rankings, Capito’s approval rate fell from 56 percent to 48 percent.
Capito was ranked as the 50th most popular senator in the latest rankings.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT., is the United State’s most popular senator with a 68 percent approval rating and 26 percent disapproval rating. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was the most unpopular senator with a 32 percent approval rating and 53 percent disapproval rating.
The New York Times reported Tuesday Manchin plans to file his re-election paperwork Friday, and that he has recently aired his frustrations with Senate Democrats about the federal government and the party itself.
“I’ve said this point blank: If people like me can’t win from red states, you’ll be in the minority the rest of your life,” Manchin told reporter Jonathan Martin about the Democratic Party.
According to the New York Times article, Manchin had thoughts of retiring at the end of his current term and was contacted by Democratic moderates about running for re-election.