Potential Democratic candidate aims to block Manchin from top environmental position

West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin is under attack from a potential 2020 Democratic candidate over his views on climate change. Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington state, is launching a petition to demand that Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, block Manchin from serving as the top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In an email sent out to supporters, Inslee insists: “Senate Democrats must not allow Joe Manchin to become the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. I need your help to stop this.” While the Washington Democrat offers some praise for Manchin, saying “Look, Joe Manchin has been a champion for affordable health care for every American. He’s been a leader on issues you and I care deeply about.” However, he adds: “But on climate, he’s simply wrong.” Inslee has positioned himself as a vocal advocate for taking action on climate change while Manchin famously ran a television ad where he shot a copy of the cap and trade bill when he first ran for Senate in 2010. The West Virginian, who was just re-elected in a state Trump won by 40 points, has long been considered the most conservative Democrat in the Senate and was the lone member of his caucus to vote for the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the supreme court earlier this year...MORE