Joe Manchin Leaves The Democratic Party

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin announced Friday that he had left the Democratic Party and had registered as an independent, Axios reported.

Manchin cited “partisan extremism” from both Democrats and Republicans as the primary reason for his decision to register as an independent, claiming both parties had left “West Virginia and our country behind.”

“From my first day in public service in 1982, I have always focused on doing what’s best for my state and my country, without regard to party or politics. Throughout my days in elected office, I have always been proud of my commitment to common sense, bipartisanship and my desire to bring people together. It’s who I am. It’s who I will always be. I have never seen America through a partisan lens,” Manchin said in his statement, according to Fox News.

“However, since becoming a United States Senator in 2010, I have seen both the Democrat and Republican parties leave West Virginia and our country behind for partisan extremism while jeopardizing our democracy,” he continued. “Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground. To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America’s sensible majority.”

My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation. pic.twitter.com/tvMB2N87AW

— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) May 31, 2024

“My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation,” Manchin posted on X.

Widely considered a moderate in the Senate, Manchin broke with President Joe Biden and the Democratic Party on several issues, including certain provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act, Axios noted. He also threatened to oppose Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency nominees in May 2023. He has indicated multiple times in the past that he was considering leaving the Democratic Party over its radical policies.

Manchin previously announced in November 2023 that he would not seek re-election in the Senate, where he has served since 2010. Before entering the Senate, he served as the state’s governor from 2005 to 2010.

Manchin indicated Wednesday that he would not enter the West Virginia governor’s race, despite rampant speculation that he would jump in, and he instead expressed his support for the Democratic nominee, Steve Williams.

“My support is with Steve Williams,” Manchin said, according to The Hill. “He’s been a friend of mine for 40 years, and we’ve worked together. I know how good he is, I know how competent he is, and I know how hard he’ll work. So, I’ve been supporting Steve.”

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Williams will face the Republican nominee, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, in November. Most election predictions forecast a solid victory for Morrisey.

This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.