Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has been the center of speculation regarding a potential last-minute independent bid for either the governor or U.S. Senate positions in the state. However, recent evidence suggests that this may not be the case.
Senator Manchin, who recently changed his party registration from Democrat to Independent, is listed as the top sponsor at a political fundraiser for Huntington Mayor Steve Williams, the Democratic Party nominee for governor. State Party Chair, Del. Mike Pushkin, has confirmed that Manchin will not be running independently for the Senate and will be fully supporting Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott as the Democratic nominee.
With Manchin switching parties on May 31st, there was initial speculation based on the timing of the change in relation to the August first deadline to run as an independent. However, the support shown for Mayor Williams and Mayor Elliott suggests that Manchin is not planning on making a last-minute independent bid for either position.
The fundraiser for Mayor Williams highlights the success of Huntington under his leadership, with Senator Manchin’s public support demonstrating that Mayor Williams is the best choice for governor. With assurances from State Party Chair, Del. Mike Pushkin, it seems that the speculation surrounding Manchin’s last-minute independent bid may be put to rest.
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