West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, retiring from the Senate this year, has reregistered as having no party affiliation.
The lifelong Democrat has hinted this day would come for him. The Democrat party has become far too radical for him, but he’s not a fit for the Republican Party either.
“Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground,” Manchin said. “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.”
Manchin, an ally of Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, has long been a centrist. He was West Virginia governor before he ran and won for Senate in 2010.
In 2022, he endorsed Murkowski for Senate, crossing party lines to do so. Two years earlier, he endorsed Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. Earlier this year, the “No Labels Party” entertained the idea of running Manchin as its candidate for president.
Sen. Murkowski has also hinted that she might not have a home in the Republican Party, especially if Donald Trump wins the party’s nomination during the Republican National Convention in July, which she has said she will not be attending.
