In 2021, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, from West Virginia, disagreed with his own party when he voted against a $1.8 trillion bill on taxes, social programs, and clean energy. This decision ultimately led to the failure of President Joe Biden’s “Build Back Better” plan. More recently, in one of his last actions in Congress, Manchin voted against a nominee that would have kept the Democratic majority on the National Labor Relations Board, marking another break from his party.
Throughout his time in office, Manchin played a key role in several of Biden’s major initiatives, including the economic stimulus program, the infrastructure bill, and the climate change and healthcare law that emerged after “Build Back Better” collapsed. In interviews, Manchin explained that his former party had shifted too far to the left, leaving him as a crucial figure who could either approve or block important legislation. He emphasized that he never aimed to be in this position but felt it was forced upon him. Manchin made it clear that he worked for the people of West Virginia, not for the Democratic Party, and that he could not support bills that didn’t make sense, no matter how badly his colleagues wanted them passed.
Manchin’s vote was essential for passing Biden’s major laws, such as the stimulus package, infrastructure bill, and healthcare reforms. He highlighted how bipartisan cooperation led to these successes. In his farewell speech, Manchin pointed to specific projects benefiting West Virginia, like clean energy manufacturing in coal communities and the development of hydrogen hubs, with $925 million in funding for projects in West Virginia and neighboring states.
He also stressed the importance of bipartisan work and supported the filibuster, which requires a supermajority of 60 votes to pass legislation. However, he noted that not all popular proposals, like immigration reform and expanded gun background checks, succeeded due to political gridlock.
Manchin officially left the Democratic Party in May, becoming an independent, though he continued to caucus with Democrats. He criticized his former party, saying the “Democratic brand” had become “toxic.” He felt that the party had shifted too far left and tried to impose extreme beliefs on people. He pointed out that the Democrats he grew up with focused on job opportunities and economic security, not telling people how to live their lives.
Manchin also shared his doubts about Vice President Kamala Harris running for president in 2024, saying her liberal record made it difficult for her to connect with moderate voters. He rejected the idea that Harris lost due to not being progressive enough, calling it “crazy.”
While Manchin resisted suggestions to run for president as an independent, he expressed support for a new centrist party. He envisioned a party that would appeal to moderate voters from both sides and encourage bipartisan cooperation. Though he wouldn’t lead it, Manchin said he’d be its biggest supporter, calling it the “American Party.”