Democrat Joe Manchin will not run for governor of West Virginia

Make sure to let us know what you think... we now have comments turned ON below the article!

There had been growing speculation recently that Democrat West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin would mount a gubernatorial run in 2020 to reclaim the position he held from 2005 to 2010, prior to his service in the U.S. Senate.

But Manchin just put an end to those rumors by decisively declaring on Tuesday that he will not be running for governor in the next election and will instead remain in the Senate, where he believes he can still do the most good for his state.

No plans

Politico reported that Manchin announced his decision not to run after first seemingly floating the idea of a run himself in April when he said that previously serving as governor had been the “best job in the world” and signaled how he would be honored to assume the mantle as the state’s leader once more.

“When considering whether to run for governor, I couldn’t focus just on which job I enjoyed the most, but on where I could be the most effective for the Mountain State,” Manchin said in a statement on Tuesday.

Noting his role in the Senate as the top Democrat on both the Appropriations Committee and Energy Committee, the senator said, “I get to set policy. I get to make sure that West Virginia is not left out.”

One of few

Interestingly, Manchin would not have been required to resign his Senate seat in order to run for governor again, and had he run and been elected in 2020, he would have been provided the unique opportunity to appoint his own replacement to serve the remainder of his current term until 2022, when the seat would be open.

That particular circumstance would quite likely only temporarily keep Manchin’s Senate seat in Democratic hands, however, as the state has trended red of late, and a Republican challenger would have a good chance at winning the seat in the next election. Indeed, when Manchin most recently ran for re-election in 2018, he barely survived a strong challenge from Republican state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who lost by only three points.

As such, national Democrats are probably pleased that Manchin decided to forego a gubernatorial bid and remain in the Senate where he can keep the seat in the Democratic caucus for the time being, even as Manchin’s moderate centrism and his quest for bipartisanship has declined in popularity among the increasingly far-left party base.

“There’s nobody trying to find the middle. Everybody is going for the sides, if you will, for the extremes,” Manchin recently told reporters of his centrist tendencies. “It’s not how you get things done.”

The specter of Trump looms large

Politico noted that had Manchin chosen to run for governor in West Virginia in 2020, he stood a pretty good chance at unseating Republican Gov. Jim Justice. Readers may recall that Justice was initially a Republican, but switched to become Democrat prior to his 2016 run — and even received Manchin’s support in that run — only to switch back to being a Republican after President Donald Trump took office.

Recent polling in the state showed that Manchin would defeat Justice in a hypothetical matchup by a significant margin. However, considering that Trump would also be on the ballot in 2020, and bearing in mind that Trump won the state by a margin of 42 points in 2016, Manchin’s success in a gubernatorial run was far from certain.

As for Manchin’s decision to remain in the Senate and how that relates to President Trump, the senator said in his statement, “As I have done since coming to Washington, I will work with the president to accomplish what best serves our state and our country and I will speak truth to power when I don’t agree with the path the President has chosen to take — that is what West Virginians elected me to do!”

254 Responses

  1. I discovered your blog web site on google and check a few of your early posts. Proceed to keep up the excellent operate. I simply further up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Looking for forward to studying more from you in a while!

  2. Normally I don’t read post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very compelled me to check out and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thanks, quite nice article.

  3. Hello, Neat post. There is a problem along with your web site in web explorer, may check this… IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a big component to other folks will miss your fantastic writing because of this problem.

  4. I’ll right away grasp your rss as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Please permit me recognize so that I may subscribe. Thanks.

  5. Yesterday, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone and tested to see if it can survive a 40 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My apple ipad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

  6. we are a company located in humboldt county CA we have a large selection of top shelf marijuana strains, we also have vapes, edibles and more. Our customers are our top priority, please contact us if you have questions like where to buy cannabis online in restricted states/countries.

  7. I’ve been browsing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. Personally, if all web owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much more useful than ever before.

  8. Have you ever considered about including a little bit more than just your articles? I mean, what you say is fundamental and all. But think of if you added some great photos or videos to give your posts more, “pop”! Your content is excellent but with images and videos, this blog could definitely be one of the very best in its niche. Terrific blog!

  9. 987736 55377 Youre so cool! I dont suppose Ive read anything like this before. So nice to locate somebody with some original thoughts on this subject. realy thank you for starting this up. this website is something that is needed on the web, someone with slightly originality. helpful job for bringing something new to the internet! 349493

  10. I simply had to thank you very much once more. I’m not certain the things that I would have created without the recommendations contributed by you concerning such industry. It became a very terrifying difficulty in my circumstances, but being able to see a new well-written style you treated it took me to jump with gladness. Now i am grateful for your help and have high hopes you know what a great job that you’re carrying out training some other people thru your webpage. Probably you haven’t come across any of us.

  11. It’s perfect time to make some plans for the longer term and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this put up and if I may I wish to counsel you some attention-grabbing things or tips. Maybe you can write next articles regarding this article. I wish to read more things approximately it!

  12. أخبار المملكةأخبار محليةأخبار السعوديةمحلياتأخبار أخبار أخبار المملكة العربية السعوديةالسعوديةالمملكة العربية السعودية

  13. Superb blog you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics discussed in this article? I’d really love to be a part of group where I can get feedback from other experienced people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Many thanks!

  14. I’m curious to find out what blog system you happen to be working with? I’m having some small security problems with my latest website and I would like to find something more secure. Do you have any suggestions?

  15. you’re in point of fact a just right webmaster. The site loading speed is amazing. It sort of feels that you are doing any distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterwork. you’ve done a fantastic process in this subject!

  16. Appreciating the time and energy you put into your blog and detailed information you offer. It’s great to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same old rehashed material. Fantastic read! I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.

  17. With havin so much written content do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement? My blog has a lot of completely unique content I’ve either created myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my authorization. Do you know any methods to help prevent content from being ripped off? I’d genuinely appreciate it.

  18. Hi would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re working with? I’m looking to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a hard time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something completely unique. P.S Sorry for getting off-topic but I had to ask!

  19. Can I just say what a aid to search out somebody who really knows what theyre speaking about on the internet. You definitely know the right way to carry an issue to gentle and make it important. Extra folks must learn this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre no more fashionable since you definitely have the gift.

  20. I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They are really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for starters. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.

  21. Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely fantastic. I really like what you have acquired here, really like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart. I cant wait to read much more from you. This is actually a great website.

  22. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason appeared to be on the net the simplest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get irked while people think about worries that they just do not know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top and also defined out the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal. Will probably be back to get more. Thanks

  23. My spouse and I absolutely love your blog and find many of your post’s to be exactly what I’m looking for. Would you offer guest writers to write content for you? I wouldn’t mind writing a post or elaborating on a lot of the subjects you write regarding here. Again, awesome web site!

  24. It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it’s time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or suggestions. Maybe you can write next articles referring to this article. I wish to read even more things about it!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Popular