Former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party are celebrating West Virginia’s Democratic Senator Joe Manchin’s decision not to seek re-election in 2024. Republicans see Manchin’s retirement as a prime opportunity to pick up the seat in the heavily GOP state.
Trump praised Manchin in a statement, saying he was “a great friend to the people of West Virginia and to America.” Trump also said that Manchin is “a man of principle who always stands up for what he believes in, even if it’s unpopular.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also praised Manchin, saying he is “a true West Virginian who has always put the interests of his state and country first.” McConnell also said Republicans are “grateful for his service” and that they “look forward to working with him to finish his term strongly.”
However, Democrats are warning that it is too early to celebrate Manchin’s retirement. They point out that West Virginia is a deep red state and any Democrat who runs for Manchin’s seat may face an uphill battle.
“Don’t promote football right now,” said Democratic strategist David Axelrod. “Republicans are the favorites to win this seat and Democrats will have to work very hard to flip it.”
Democrats are also concerned that Manchin’s retirement could hurt their chances of holding on to the Senate majority in 2024. In addition to West Virginia, Democrats are also defending seats in Montana and Ohio, all states Trump carried easily in 2020.
“Manchin’s retirement is a major blow to Democrats,” said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. “This will make it even more difficult for them to maintain their majority in the Senate.”
Despite the challenges, Democrats say they are confident they can win Manchin’s seat in 2024. They are already recruiting candidates and say they are committed to investing heavily in the race.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Jaime Harrison said, “We know this will be a tough race, but we are confident we can win.” “We have a strong bench of candidates and we are committed to working hard for every vote.”
It remains to be seen who will win Manchin’s seat in 2024. However, one thing is certain: the race will be closely watched by both parties.