Joe Manchin Says He Won’t Seek Reelection in 2024

Greg Nash | The Hill

Joe Manchin, the centrist Democratic Senator of West Virginia, has publicly announced he will not seek reelection in 2024.

Manchin’s decision effectively cedes West Virginia, one of the reddest states in the country, to Republicans. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, responsible for electing or reelecting Democrats in the Senate, indicated Democrats would fare better focusing on Republican incumbents Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida.

Manchin would have faced conservative Republican challenger Jim Justice—who, like Manchin, is a former Governor of the state. Between this and the fact that Manchin is an unpopular Democratic Senator representing a very conservative state, there was no guarantee of his reelection.

Manchin earned a reputation as an obstacle to President Biden’s agenda and a thorn in the side of Congressional progressives for his preservation of the filibuster and opposition to both the social component of Build Back Better and climate change measures.

On the other hand, the West Virginian voted for Biden legislation far more often than not, helping pass the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and Inflation Reduction Act.

Regardless, his decision to retire will make a challenging 2024 Senate map for Democrats that much more difficult.

And his absence will no doubt invoke mixed feelings for Democrats who are justifiably frustrated with his high profile defiance but also understand that their razor-thin margin can afford little loss.