Joe Manchin ‘thinking seriously’ about leaving Democrats to become independent

 

Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia said Thursday that he’s been considering leaving the Democratic Party “for quite some time,” marking an escalation in his long-running flirtation with becoming an independent.

“I would think very seriously about that. I’ve been thinking about that for quite some time,” the conservative Democrat told West Virginia radio host Hoppy Kercheval.

“I haven’t made any decisions whatsoever on any of my political direction. I want to make sure that my voice is truly an independent voice,” he said.

Mr. Manchin has not said whether he will seek reelection next year as Republicans line up to challenge him in the ruby-red state. He also hasn’t ruled out a third-party bid against President Biden.

Mr. Manchin has increasingly leaned into the idea of following in the footsteps of Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona by switching from Democrat to independent as the 2024 election grows near, despite previously saying after Ms. Sinema’s change in party affiliation he had no intention of doing the same...more