Local News

Manchin to remain in Senate

CHARLESTON -- U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin said his family was in favor of him trying for another term as West Virginia's governor, but in the end he felt his place is in the U.S. Senate.

"I'm at peace. I'm at ease with this," Manchin said. "I made a decision yesterday and it was a solid final decision and I feel good, but I made a decision."

Manchin, the two-term Democratic senator, held a press conference Tuesday afternoon at his offices in Charleston to go into further detail on his decision not to seek a third term as governor in the Democratic primary next May.

"My wife (Gayle Manchin) and I talked about it probably yesterday," Manchin said. "My family was all in to run for governor. "I listened to the family, because everybody's had their opinion over the months it's been going on...I had to make the final call and my final call was yesterday."

Serving two consecutive terms as governor between 2004 and 2010, Manchin won a special election to replace the late U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd and won a full term to the senate in 2012. He recently won reelection in 2018 to a second six-year term. Manchin has earned a reputation as a moderate, working with Republicans to the chagrin of his fellow Democrats in the senate.

The infighting and slow progress of legislation has caused Manchin to occasionally eye re-taking his seat in the governor's office. Manchin said he heard calls for him to stay and for him to return to Charleston.

"There's one hundred people who come; 50 people tell you to stay in the Senate. And 50 people say please come back as be governor if you can," Manchin said. "They all had good, valid reasons why both, why they were correct. But when it came down to it, I had to make a decision where I thought I could have the most impact and continue to have an impact as far as for West Virginia."

For Manchin, he said he could do a better job in the U.S. Senate representing West Virginia's interests. He is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, dealing with the state's coal and natural gas industry.

He sits on the Senate Appropriations committee providing oversight for tax dollars, the Senate Committee on Armed Forces that ensures the military has the tools it needs, and the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs that's now looking as suspicious deaths at the VA hospital in Clarksburg.

"Everything I've done in public services has been about how can I put myself in a position to help the state," Manchin said. "I think extremely important for me to be able to speak truth to power. When things don't make sense, I can speak out. I can say the things I think need to be said and I can speak in a way that I think has always been a respectful."

Manchin has not been happy with the performance of Gov. Jim Justice, whom he helped recruit to run as the Democratic standard bearer. But Justice switched to Republican in 2017 and later fired Gayle Manchin as secretary of the state Department of Education and the Arts. In a statement, Justice said he would work with West Virginia's congressional delegation, including Manchin.

"We have West Virginia back on the right track but there are still a lot of people hurting and there's a lot of work to do," Justice said. "I will continue to bring people together from both parties, including working with Senator Manchin, to ensure a bright future for all West Virginians."

Woody Thrasher, the businessman and former Department of Commerce secretary under Justice who switched parties to challenged Justice in the Republican primary, said Manchin was an example of a public servant. He said Justice could learn from Manchin's example.

"I fully committed to my campaign in April, and I respect Sen. Manchin's decision, because it is not an easy one," Thrasher said. "One thing our senior U.S. Senator and I agree on is the need for a change in the executive branch. Things are not on the right track. Sen. Manchin and I both believe this is a full-time job for a person our state can be proud of, with an honorable reputation, who puts the state's best interests first."

Had Manchin decided to run in the Democratic primary for governor, one of the candidates he would have faced was Stephen Smith, the former leader of the West Virginia Healthy Kids and Families Coalition. Smith said he didn't let the last few months with the possibility of Manchin entering the race change how he campaigns.

"What our state needed yesterday is the same today. West Virginia needs a movement, not a king," Smith said. "No elected official – not Jim Justice, not Joe Manchin, not me – can save us. We have to save ourselves. So, while the media and political class were watching this soap opera unfold, our volunteers were busy building a people's political machine around the state."

Melody Potter, the chairwoman of the West Virginia Republican Party, said in a statement that now that Manchin was not entering the race, the party can now focus on retaining its legislative majorities and majorities on the Board of Public Works, as well as the reelection of U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito.

"We are all pleased that Senator Manchin has chosen to spare West Virginia from the same old policies that he has sold out to in Washington, D.C. Chuck Schumer's liberal agenda and liberal values have no place in West Virginia. Our party is focused on retaining the Governor's mansion, adding to our legislative majorities, and, of course, re-electing Senator Shelley Moore Capito."

Belinda Biafore, chairwoman of the West Virginia Democratic Party, had asked Manchin to decide by the end of Summer. She said they stood behind his decision.

"Since the beginning of rumors about a gubernatorial run, Senator Manchin always said he would do what he thinks is best for West Virginia, and that's what he did today," Biafore said. "We support Senator Manchin continuing his position in the U.S. Senate and working together to move West Virginia forward to brighter days."