Democrat Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has announces he will not seek reelection.
The moderate Democrat has been a contentious figure in Washington D.C. often holding up key pieces of legislation for Democrats.
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said Thursday he will not run for reelection in 2024 — but signaled he was not leaving politics entirely.
“I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life, and decided that I will not be running for reelection to the United States Senate,” Manchin said in a video posted on X.
“But what I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together,” he said.
The announcement strikes a major blow to Democrats who saw Manchin, a centrist incumbent in a deep-red state, as crucial to their efforts to keep their narrow majority in the Senate past the 2024 election cycle.
Manchin did not speak to his presidential aspirations but the move opens the door for Republicans to take control of his seat in West Virginia.
Governor Jim Justice, a Republican has announced his intentions to run for the seat in 2024.
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