Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced on Tuesday that he has decided to remain in the Senate rather than vacating his seat in order to run for governor of West Virginia.
“The Senate, as envisioned by our Founders, is the greatest deliberative body in the world, and, when it is at its best, senators can transform the lives of people across America for the better,” Manchin said in a statement. “Whether that means protecting those with pre-existing conditions, ensuring healthcare and pensions for our miners, or building the roads and bridges, and broadband infrastructure that make our country competitive, we can make a difference.”
“I have always said that ‘public service is not self-service,’” he continued. “So, when considering whether to run for governor, I couldn’t focus just one which job I enjoyed the most, but on where I could be the most effective for the Mountain State.”
Manchin reportedly had been confiding in his colleagues for months that he has been exceptionally frustrated with Congress’s lack of bipartisanship and as a result, mulling over the possibility of leaving the Senate.
When asked in June whether he was happy with the Senate’s productivity, he replied, “Not at all.”
“I haven’t been happy since I’ve been here,” Manchin said at the time. “I’ve always thought there was more we can do. It’s the greatest body in the world, so much good can be done.”
Despite winning reelection to his Senate seat in 2018, the West Virginia senator confirmed that he considered stepping down from his position in order to run against Republican Gov. Jim Justice when Justice’s term expires in 2020.
Manchin had previously served as the Mountain State’s governor from 2005 until 2010, but vacated the position in the middle of his second term to replace the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-WV) following Byrd’s death.
“Those who know me know how much I loved being the governor of West Virginia. I worked the daylights out of that job. I couldn’t wait to wake up in the Governor’s Mansion in the morning, and I didn’t want to go to bed at night because there was always more that I could do for the state,” Manchin continued in his statement.
“That is what it takes to be an effective governor: relentless effort,” he continued. “Working together, all of us changed the culture of this state from CAN’T DO to DONE! Attitudes changed, our financial outlook changed, and more importantly, we stood tall in what we accomplished: creating good paying jobs, improving West Virginia’s finances, and making the state competitive again.”
“Serving as the governor of this state was the greatest honor of my life,” Manchin added. “Nothing made my heart swell with pride more than bragging about the wonderful state I represented.”
The Democratic lawmaker is considered one of the most centrist members of the Senate today. He survived re-election in deep-red West Virginia by lauding his support for the state’s coal industry. Manchin often crosses the aisle to oppose Obama-era regulations and confirm judicial nominees.
“Our state is blessed with the resources and people to accomplish anything, and I am going to use every day I have left in the Senate to make sure West Virginians have that chance,” Manchin said. “I am grateful to be a public servant from West Virginia, and I can’t wait to continue fighting to make a difference as their United States senator.”