Conservative Democratic WV Senator Joe Manchin Switches Party

Manchin Retiring, Running as Independent

Longtime Moderate Democrat Cites Party System Concerns

WEB: Senator Joe Manchin III (D-WV), a conservative Democrat who has announced his retirement at the end of his term, has switched his party affiliation in a move that has shaken the political landscape in Washington, D.C. Manchin, a lifelong Democrat, said Friday that he is leaving the party due to concerns about the growing partisan divide and the state of the two-party system in the United States.

Manchin, who has spent his entire decadeslong political career as a Democrat, has often been a thorn in his party's side, voting against key Democratic initiatives such as the Build Back Better Act and the Green New Deal. However, he has also worked with Republicans on issues such as gun control and healthcare. Manchin's decision to switch parties could have significant implications for the balance of power in the Senate, where Democrats currently hold a slim majority.