Joe Manchin Warns Democratic Party ‘Toxic’ As He Steps Down From US Senate
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, a longtime Democrat who switched to being an independent earlier this year and is now retiring from the Senate after 15 years, issued a stark critique of his former party.
“The D-brand has been so maligned from the standpoint of – it’s just, it’s toxic,” Manchin told CNN, explaining that he could no longer align himself with the Democratic Party due to “what [it] has turned itself into.”
He argued that the party had strayed too far left, focusing on progressive ideologies instead of practical issues. “They have basically expanded upon thinking: ‘Well, we want to protect you there, but we’re going to tell you how you should live your life from that far on,’” Manchin said, accusing progressives of dominating the party.
Manchin predicted that the nation would “not go left” and lamented that Democrats, once focused on “good job, good pay,” had shifted their attention to social issues like LGBTQ+ rights. He also criticized both parties for failing to address fiscal responsibility, noting neither had adequately tackled the federal budget.
On gun control, Manchin criticized Republicans for lacking “common sense” and labeled both parties as extreme. “The Democrats go too far, want to ban. The Republican says: ‘Oh, let the good times roll. Let anybody have anything they want,’” he said, calling for balanced solutions to curb mass shootings.
Reflecting on his political identity, Manchin admitted, “If you try to be somebody you’re not, it’s hard.” While he didn’t publicly endorse Vice President Harris’s campaign or disclose his November vote, he expressed support for the president-elect. “I want to help any way I can,” Manchin said, adding, “Every red-blooded American should want your president to succeed, whether you vote for him or not, whether the same party or not, whether you like him or not.”
Manchin also advocated for the creation of a third political party, which he called the “American Party,” aimed at bridging the divide between moderate Democrats and Republicans. “The centrist-moderate vote decides who’s going to be the president of the United States. And when they get here, they don’t govern that way. Neither side does. They go to their respective corners. If the center had a voice and had a party that could make both of these – the Democrat, Republican party – come back, OK, that would be something,” he said.
Announcing his decision not to seek re-election, Manchin cited the challenging political landscape and his opponent, Republican Governor Jim Justice, who ultimately won the Senate race in November, giving Republicans control of the chamber.
“I’ve made one of the toughest decisions in my life and decided that I will not be running for re-election to the United States Senate,” Manchin said in a statement.
Instead, he plans to embark on a national tour to rally support for a movement aimed at uniting Americans. “We need to take back America and not let this divisive hatred further pull us apart,” he added.