West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said Friday that he is not running for president, according to his spokesman Jonathan Kott. Manchin announced his decision in a speech at West Virginia University, as part of a national listening tour he was making.
Quick Read
- Manchin’s Presidential Decision: West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, through his spokesman Jonathan Kott, announced on Friday that he will not be running for president. This declaration was made during a speech at West Virginia University as part of a national listening tour.
- No Third-Party Run: In his Morgantown speech, Manchin explicitly stated, “I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run.” His decision ends speculation about his potential candidacy, particularly as a third-party candidate.
- Speculations and Considerations: Manchin, a centrist Democrat known for often opposing his party’s leadership, had been contemplating a presidential run. He previously indicated that the viability of a third-party candidacy would be apparent by March.
- No Labels Movement: The No Labels organization, known for its efforts to promote an independent presidential ticket, had been privately seeking serious candidates for the 2024 election. Manchin was considered a prime candidate for this initiative.
- Senate Seat and Political Future: Manchin has decided not to seek reelection for his Senate seat in 2024. Given West Virginia’s strong Republican leaning, his seat is viewed as a key opportunity for the GOP.
- Potential Third-Party Efforts: There were movements, including one that filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, advocating for a third-party bid featuring Manchin and retiring Utah Senator Mitt Romney. Neither politician endorsed this campaign.
- Manchin’s Post-Senate Plans: After announcing he wouldn’t seek Senate reelection, Manchin expressed his intention to explore the possibility of a movement aimed at unifying Americans and promoting centrist values. His tour included a visit to New Hampshire and plans to speak in Arizona.
- No Labels’ Response: Following Manchin’s announcement, No Labels issued a statement appreciating his efforts to reinforce the “commonsense majority” in America. The organization mentioned ongoing discussions with several leaders for a presidential Unity ticket and promised forthcoming updates on their ballot access progress.
- Other No Labels Prospects: Democratic Representative Dean Phillips from Minnesota expressed openness to running on a No Labels ticket, despite currently challenging Biden in the Democratic primary. Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, another potential No Labels candidate, recently announced he would not pursue a presidential bid, opting for a Senate run instead.
The Associated Press has the story:
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin announces he won’t run for president in 2024
Newslookks- NEW YORK (AP) —
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin said Friday that he is not running for president, according to his spokesman Jonathan Kott. Manchin announced his decision in a speech at West Virginia University, as part of a national listening tour he was making.
“I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run,” he said in his speech in Morgantown.
The centrist Democrat who often bucked his party’s leadership had been considering a run for the presidency and had said he thought it would be clear by March if there was a path for a third-party candidate this year.
His decision comes as the leadership of No Labels, a national political movement that could offer an independent presidential ticket in 2024, has worked privately to identify serious candidates to represent the group in the general election. Manchin was viewed as one of the top prospects.
Manchin is not running for reelection in 2024. His Senate seat in a heavily Republican state is expected to be a prime pickup opportunity for the GOP.
In addition to the No Labels effort, a group pushing for Manchin to partner with retiring Utah Sen. Mitt Romney to seek a third-party presidential bid filed paperwork last year to form a draft committee with the Federal Election Commission. Romney and Manchin did not sign on to the effort.
After Manchin announced last year that he would not run for reelection, he said he planned to travel the country “to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together.”
He visited New Hampshire, an early voting state in the presidential primaries, in January. The senator is scheduled to speak in Arizona, a political battleground state, on Saturday.
After Manchin’s announcement, No Labels issued a statement saying the organization welcomed the senator’s efforts to strengthen “America’s commonsense majority.”
“No Labels is currently speaking with several exceptional leaders about serving on the presidential Unity ticket. We are continuing to make great progress on our ballot access efforts and will announce in the coming weeks whether we will offer our line to a Unity ticket,” said the co-chairs of No Labels, former Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, former head of the NAACP Benjamin Chavis, Jr., and former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory.
Democratic Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips said last month that he would consider running on a No Labels ticket, though he is still challenging Biden in the Democratic primary ahead of the party’s primary in Michigan.
Another leading No Labels prospect, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, last week ruled out a 2024 presidential bid as well, announcing a Senate bid instead.
