(PatriotNewsDaily.com) – Retiring Independent Senator Joe Manchin (West Virginia), who had spent more than 40 years as a conservative Democrat, revealed that while he didn’t have plans to run in the current election cycle, he hasn’t ruled it out as a possibility in the future.
On Monday, Manchin told MetroNews that he is “not running,” but when asked if he would run in the future, the newly-Independent Senator stated he “never closed doors” given the uncertainty around “what’s going to happen in this toxic political world.”
However, he reiterated that he didn’t have “any intentions of running for… elected office.”
Last week, Manchin squashed speculation he would be participating in West Virginia’s gubernatorial race while expressing his support for Steve Williams, the Democratic nominee.
Before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010, Manchin served as West Virginia’s governor for six years.
During his time as a Governor and then a Senator, Manchin often diverged from the Democratic Party’s status quo.
Manchin’s centrist views culminated in an announcement on Friday that he was leaving the Democratic Party to become an Independent. When making the announcement, Manchin noted that he has “always been independent,” adding that he isn’t “wedded to any party.”
Manchin’s announcement didn’t come as a surprise to most Democrats who felt the West Virginia Senator had worn out his welcome in the more progressive-leaning party.
During Friday’s announcement, Manchin blamed both parties for his decision to become Independent.
“Our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise,” he stated, adding that his decision to become an Independent was linked to his commitment to “put country before party” and “fight for the sensible majority.”
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