In a bold move reshaping his political identity, West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin has declared his independence from both major parties, spotlighting a growing dissatisfaction with partisan divides.
West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat, officially registered as an independent on Friday.
“My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation,” Manchin announced on the social media platform X.
Manchin, who has served in Congress since 2010, revealed in November that he would retire. Prior to his congressional tenure, he was the governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010.
On Wednesday, he dismissed speculation about entering the governor’s race, stating he would not pursue the office again.
In a statement on Friday, Manchin criticized partisanship for endangering democracy.
“To stay true to myself and remain committed to putting country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America’s sensible majority,” he said.
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