West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin Leaves The Democratic Party

Longtime Democrat and West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin announced on Friday (May 31) that he is registering as an independent. This decision comes after Manchin declared last year that he would not seek reelection in the heavily Republican state, opening up a potential opportunity for the GOP to flip the Senate seat.

Manchin, who has held his seat since 2010, has often been at odds with his own party, particularly over his support for coal and other fossil fuels. His influence in the Senate has been significant, given the Democrats' slim majority. He has been instrumental in shaping legislation and has had a considerable impact on President Joe Biden's social spending plans.

"Our national politics are broken, and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground," Manchin said in a statement. "To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America's sensible majority."

Despite his decision not to run for reelection, Manchin has expressed plans to travel the country to see if there is interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together. His decision to register as an independent raises questions about his future political aspirations.