Joe Manchin’s political allies are wishing him well after his announcement that he will not seek re-election to the U.S. Senate.
“For forty-one years, beginning with his election to the House of Delegates in 1982, Joe Manchin’s name has been synonymous with West Virginia politics and government,” stated Mike Pushkin, chairman of the West Virginia Democratic Party.
Pushkin recognized Manchin’s years of service in additional roles such as state Senate, Secretary of State and governor.
“We would like to thank Joe Manchin for all his years of service to West Virginia and the nation,” stated Pushkin, a state delegate from Charleston. “Like senators Randolph, Byrd and Rockefeller, Joe Manchin was larger than life in the United States Senate.”
Manchin, a former governor, has a reputation as a retail politician beyond compare. But as West Virginia’s political preferences have grown more and more Republican, his seat is viewed as increasingly vulnerable.
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Manchin, who grew up in Marion County, assumed office in the Senate in 2010 after a special election that followed the death of Robert C. Byrd.
Mike Caputo, one of few Democrats remaining in the state Senate, said he’d had the honor of serving alongside Manchin for many years.
“The Senator and I have agreed on many things, such as his leadership in the fight for our government to keep the promise of lifetime healthcare and pensions for coal miners. However, as happens in politics, we had disagreements as well. When that happened, we always disagreed with respect and civility,” said Caputo, D-Marion.
“I will always respect him for the example he has set for his colleagues of how to discuss points of difference and overlap so that we can find some middle ground. Our country and our state need more of those discussions.”
AFL-CIO President Josh Sword thanked Manchin for his many years of service. He made reference to federal investments still unfolding through the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes incentives for clean energy manufacturing.
“There is still a lot yet to be done, and I know I speak on behalf of so many in the West Virginia labor movement when I say we are looking forward to the months ahead of working with Senator Manchin to continue to grow our state’s economy, thanks in no small part to federal investments that will help create thousands of good paying jobs, with great benefits and safe workplaces,” Sword stated.
“I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
Manchin will leave behind a Senate seat that West Virginia used to reliably fill with a Democrat. Polls showed Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, with a significant edge over Manchin in a possible General Election matchup. Those polls had shown a competitive theoretical race between Manchin and Congressman Alex Mooney, another Republican in the race.
Now, Marine Corps veteran Zachary Shrewsbury of Charles Town is trying to get more traction for his own campaign for Senate as a Democrat.
“I am now the Democratic candidate for the United States Senate from West Virginia. I am cut from the same cloth as Mountaineers. I am in this race to fight for the working people of our state and my resolve to give you true representation in Washington is unbeatable,” Shrewsbury stated in a press release from his campaign.
The West Virginia Republican Party said Manchin’s exit from the Senate bolsters its chances in 2024.
“The highest priority of the West Virginia Republican Party this election cycle is to do its part in delivering a Republican majority to the United States Senate, and in just under one year from now, we will do just that,” stated Elgine McArdle, West Virginia GOP chairwoman.
“The retirement of incumbent Democrat Senator Joe Manchin is an important development in ensuring that outcome, and the West Virginia Republican Party will not take its eye off the ball.”