Mr. Manchin has said he will not run for re-election to the Senate or for governor — a role he previously held for two terms — but rumors persist on Capitol Hill that he could change his mind.
West Virginia’s deadline for independent candidates to declare their candidacies is not until Aug. 1.
Since Mr. Manchin said he would not run again, Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, has been pleading with him to formally leave the Democratic Party and seek re-election as an independent.
If he did so, Mr. Manchin would face Jim Justice, a Democrat-turned-Republican second-term governor with whom he has a storied rivalry.
Mr. Justice is popular in the state, and his decision to enter the Senate race was seen as a key factor in Mr. Manchin’s decision not to seek re-election.
Persons:
Joe Manchin III, Manchin, —, Chuck Schumer, Jim Justice, Manchin’s
Organizations:
West Virginia Democrat, Democratic Party, Democrat, Republican
Locations:
New York