Senator Joe Manchin is officially ruling out a 2024 independent bid for the presidency.
The Democrat from West Virginia announced at the end of 2023 that he would not seek reelection after almost 15 years in Congress — heightening speculation that he had his eyes on the White House.
Manchin confirmed on Feb. 16 during a speech at West Virginia University that he does not plan to enter the presidential race as an independent.
“I will not be seeking a third-party run,” said Manchin, per The Seattle Times. “I will not be involved in a presidential run. I will be involved in making sure that we secure a president that has the knowledge and has the passion and has the ability to bring this country together.”
He told the crowd that he did not want to be “a deal-breaker” or a “spoiler.”
“I just don’t think it’s the right time,” said the 76-year-old.
Manchin is the only Democrat to hold statewide office in West Virginia. His declaration comes roughly a day after Manchin teased about who he’d select as a vice president.
“Hypothetically, if I was picking my running mate, really who I would ask right now is [Utha Senator] Mitt Romney,” said Manchin, per NBC News. He also suggested former Ohio Rob Portman as a possible ticketmate.
Romney, a Republican, announced in September that he would not seek a second term in the Senate.
Manchin had said at an event at St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire in July that if he were to enter the 2024 presidential race, it would be as an independent and not as a Democrat. The event was hosted by No Labels, a political organization that calls for a third-party “unity ticket.”
"I’ve never spoiled a race," Manchin told the crowd at the event. "If I get into the race, I’m going to win."
Manchin has irritated members of his own party in recent years because of his more centrist leanings, his support for the coal industry, and his resistance to support legislative initiatives backed by the Biden administration.
When he announced his plans to retire, he noted that his bipartisan approach to legislation had landed him in “hot water” but that the “fight to unite has been well worth it.” The senator also said the “growing divide between Democrats and Republicans is paralyzing Congress and worsening our nation’s problems.”
“I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life and decided that I will not be running for re-election to the United States Senate, but what I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together,” Manchin said.
