Manchin will not run for Senate

Nov. 9—WASHINGTON D.C. — West Virginia Democratic Senator Joe Manchin has announced he will not seek reelection to the federal office.

Instead, the Blue Dog Democrat said in a press announcement Thursday afternoon that he will be "traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together."

Manchin began his announcement by discussing his upbringing in the northern West Virginia coal mining town of Farmington, filled with "hard-working people," where his father, John Manchin, owned a furniture store.

"And one day, our local state representative came in and asked dad for a favor saying, 'You owe me for all the things I've done for your little town,' " Manchin said.

"When the man left, I turned to my dad and said, "Now wait a minute, isn't helping Farmington that man's job?"

Manchin said that occurrence became the defining moment between self-service and public service.

"When I told my dad that I was going to run for office, he said, "Politics is a bad business, son, I'm telling you right now. Stay out of it."

Manchin was first sworn into the United States Senate on November 15, 2010, to fill the seat left vacant by the late Senator Robert C. Byrd. He also served six years as governor of the Mountain State, in addition to serving in the state legislature.

Manchin currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and also serves on the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Reaction to Manchin's announcement was swift and widespread.

His West Virginia colleague, Republican U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, said, "Thank you Joe and Gayle for your years of service to our beloved West Virginia. I've enjoyed serving alongside you — our senior senator. And as you said, we still have much work ahead of us. Thank you for your friendship, Joe. I look forward to that continuing."

During a Daily Telegraph editorial board session with Senator Capito in 2014, she was asked about Manchin. She laughed when recalling that the first time she met him he was installing carpet in her house.

"I've known Joe for probably 30 years," Capito said at the time. "My husband and I bought carpet for our home in Charleston from him. He knows the challenges involved in operating a family business. I think we will be able to work together in a bipartisan way."

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice also commented on Manchin's announcement saying, "Senator Joe Manchin and I have not always agreed on policy and politics, but we're both lifelong West Virginians who love this state beyond belief, and I respect and thank him for his many years of public service."

The West Virginia Republican Party was also quick to reply to Manchin's news.

"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," Chairwoman Elgine McArdle said. "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."

West Virginia Republican Party Co-Chairman Tony Hodge said retiring Joe Manchin from the Senate was a priority when he and McArdle took the helm of the party. "In less than a year and a half in office, under the steady, focused leadership of our chairwoman and with the tireless work of our WVGOP supporters, staff, and volunteers, we have accomplished exactly what we said we would."

West Virginia AFL-CIO President Josh Sword issued "deepest gratitude" for Manchin's years of advocating for West Virginians and the state's working families.

"There is still a lot yet to be done," Sword said, "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. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors."

Although no additional official details were available Thursday on Manchin's future political plans, speculation on social media was widespread, with many advocating the senator run for president under the bipartisan "No Labels" campaign.

— Contact Samantha Perry at sperry@bdtonline.com.

— Contact Samantha Perry at sperry@bdtonline.com.