Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) was adamant on Monday that his future does not hold any more political offices — at least for now.
The Democrat-turned-independent said he has “no intentions of running for political office” and that last week’s party switch was a long time in the making as he gears up to become more involved in his daughter’s nonprofit centrist political group, Americans Together.
“Me identifying now as an independent, which I’ve always been independent but changing my registration so as I transition six months from now, I’m going to be helping with Americans Together and my daughter,” Manchin told reporters at the Capitol. “The brands are so toxic here in America.”
“I’ve been voting independently like this for the last 13 years,” Manchin added.
Manchin, 76, has served in the Senate since 2010 and is not seeking reelection this November. He still caucuses with Democrats as an independent, which means he maintains his Senate Energy Committee gavel and the party keeps its one-seat majority.
Despite previously tamping down rumors he may seek another statewide office or mount long-shot third-party runs, his change in party registration fueled further speculation. It came one day before the deadline by which