DEMOCRATIC SENATOR JOE MANCHIN HAS ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT BE RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2024 — HIS ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS DEMOCRATS SCORED VICTORIES IN SEVERAL STATES FOLLOWING ELECTION DAY ON TUESDAY —
BUT MARKS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE GOP TO CUT INTO THE DEMOCRATS SLIM MAJORITY IN THE SENATE IN 20-24.
SEN. JOE MANCHIN | WEST VIRGINIA (D): “I believe in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia. I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life and decided that I will not be running for reelection to the united states senate.”
MANCHIN’S DECISION COULD PUT DEMOCRATS’ TWO-SEAT MAJORITY IN THE SENATE IN JEOPARDY.
WEST VIRGINIA IS A STATE THAT WOULD VOTE BLUE RELIABLY BUT HAS FLIPPED RED IN RECENT YEARS.
THE COAL COUNTRY STATE WAS ONE OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S MOST LOYAL — AND MANCHIN HAS BEEN THE ONLY DEMOCRAT TO BE ELECTED TO STATEWIDE OFFICE THERE IN RECENT YEARS.
MANCHIN’S ANNOUNCEMENT ALSO INDICATES HIS POLITICAL CAREER MAY NOT BE OVER —
IN RECENT MONTHS — HE HAS HINTED AT A POTENTIAL 2024 PRESIDENTIAL BID RUNNING AS AN INDEPENDENT BUT THE SENATOR HAS NOT ANNOUNCED ANYTHING OFFICIAL.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTING THAT A DRAFT COMMITTEE IS PUSHING FOR MITT ROMNEY AND JOE MANCHIN TO TEAM UP FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
ROMNEY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED HE’S STEPPING AWAY FROM THE SENATE — CITING HIS AGE.