Top Democratic Senator Contemplates Party Switch: Could Washington's 'Bad' Brands Push Him To Independence?

In an interview with West Virginia Metro News' "Talkline," Manchin stated, "I have to have peace of mind, basically. The brand has become so bad, the 'D' brand and 'R' brand." He emphasized that it is not the Democrats in West Virginia but rather the national Democrats that have tarnished the party's reputation in his state.

Manchin's potential party switch has been a topic of speculation in the past, particularly after he played a pivotal role in blocking key elements of President Biden's progressive agenda, such as the Build Back Better plan. While he had never explicitly ruled out the possibility before, Manchin now stated, "I would very seriously think about" becoming an independent.

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As a long-standing figure in the West Virginia Democratic Party, Manchin faces a tough challenge from Republican Governor Jim Justice if he decides to run for re-election. Despite his clashes with the Biden administration, Manchin drew criticism from Republicans for ultimately supporting the Inflation Reduction Act, which included provisions favored by progressives to address climate change.

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Manchin emphasized that he has been contemplating this decision for some time and has not yet made any definitive choices regarding his political future. He stressed the importance of maintaining an independent voice and pledged to continue calling out the extremes on both sides of the political spectrum. "When I do speak, I want to be able to speak honestly about basically the extremes of the Democrat and Republican Party that's harming our nation," he stated.

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August 11, 2023

This recent revelation follows Manchin's previous remarks at a No Labels event in New Hampshire, where he refused to rule out the possibility of a third-party presidential bid. Despite concerns from allies of President Biden that such a campaign could harm the Democratic Party, Manchin believes it is too early to determine the potential impact.

If Manchin were to switch from Democrat to independent, he would be the second Senate Democrat to do so in the past 10 months, following Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.