Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, has taken a firm stance on President Joe Biden’s judicial nominations, insisting that each nominee must garner the support of at least one Republican senator before he will cast his vote in their favor.
In a recent interview with Politico, Manchin expressed his frustration with the current state of affairs, declaring, “Just one Republican. That’s all I’m asking for. Give me something bipartisan. This is my own little filibuster. If they can’t get one Republican, I vote for none. I’ve told \[Democrats\] that. I said, ‘I’m sick and tired of it, I can’t take it anymore.'”
Manchin’s stance is not entirely unexpected, as the moderate senator has a history of defying his party on various issues.
Most notably, he has refused to consider changes to the filibuster that would allow federal action on key Democratic priorities, such as codifying abortion rights in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
News: Manchin says he will oppose all judicial noms who lack GOP support
"This is my own little filibuster. If they can’t get one Republican, I vote for none," he says in interview
Bad news for Mangi and makes any party-line nominees that much tougher https://t.co/OqUynun1li
— Burgess Everett (@burgessev) March 20, 2024
In addition to his ultimatum on judicial nominees, Manchin has been encouraging donors to demand that candidates commit to preserving the filibuster.
Given the narrow margin in the Senate, Manchin’s vote can often be the deciding factor in the outcome of crucial nominations.
Despite this, he remains steadfast in his belief that cross-party support is essential. Manchin specifically mentioned moderate Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine as potential allies for Democrats seeking support for their nominees. “Lisa and Susan both are not controlled by just voting party line, I know that. But you’ve got to ask them,” he said.
As Manchin prepares to retire at the end of his current term, his home state of West Virginia has been increasingly leaning towards the Republican Party in recent years.
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Although he had been considered a potential third-party candidate, Manchin ultimately decided against pursuing such a bid.
His departure from the Senate will undoubtedly have a significant impact on the balance of power and the ability of Democrats to advance their agenda in the coming years.