Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) sidestepped questions about whether he will run for reelection in 2024 amid reports of him privately flip-flopping on the matter.
Host Maria Bartiromo asked the senator about his election plans for 2024, noting that he ruled out running for president in a recent radio interview but has been mum about whether he will run for Senate or governor.
MANCHIN ‘CHANGED HIS MIND MULTIPLE TIMES’ ABOUT RUNNING AGAIN AS FUNDRAISING STALLS
“My main concern is how do we bring this country together. How do we make it work, how do we make Democrats, Republicans become Americans again, and not just party affiliates,” Manchin replied during an interview with Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures.
“I’m going to do whatever I can to help my country come together, and my state come together,” he later added.
When she pressed him about whether he still identifies as a Democrat, Manchin quipped, “I identify as an American.” Manchin won his statewide race in an area where former President Donald Trump won by nearly 40 percentage points in 2020.
Polls indicate that he would have stiff competition if West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) enters the race. So far, his main declared rival is Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV), whom he is leading in some recent polls. Part of his concerns about running for reelection stems from concerns about losing to Justice, per Puck News.
Manchin’s seat is one of the most vulnerable in the 2024 Senate election cycle that is shaping up to have one of the most brutal maps for Democrats in decades. Democrats will have to defend 23 seats held by the party, including three held by Democratic-aligned independent senators, while the GOP will only have to defend 11.
The West Virginia senator was pivotal in giving President Joe Biden one of his signature legislative victories with the $740 billion Inflation Reduction Act after having torpedoed multiple iterations of Biden’s so-called Build Back Better agenda.
“This administration has sold that as an environmental bill only. It is an energy security bill. We’re not going to be expanding all of the new technology for renewables as some people would wish unless we have the horsepower to run our country,” Manchin reflected on the bill. “It’s not been sold that way, and it’s unfortunate.”
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When asked whether he had any regrets about backing the Inflation Reduction Act, especially in light of the reported permitting reforms he sought failing to manifest, Manchin said “no” and cited its boon for United States energy.
“If people don’t think that bill is working, then why is Europe so upset? Because everyone’s coming to America now to make these investments. So, it’s going to be a great bill,” Manchin quipped.
