Joe Manchin, a Democratic Senator from West Virginia, is reportedly considering becoming an Independent.
In an interview with West Virginia Metro News’ “Talkline” host Hoppy Kercheval, Manchin said that the D brand at the national level has become so bad that he needs to take a step back and reevaluate his political direction.
Manchin went on to say that he was seriously considering leaving the Democratic Party in order to have more freedom to speak honestly about issues without being tied down by partisan politics.
He also noted that it would not be harmful to President Biden’s agenda as some Democrats feared.
This news could be a potential game-changer for Republicans if Joe Manchin does indeed switch parties.
With Kyrsten Sinema having done so already last year, this move could leave Democrats in the Senate with just 49 members- enough for them to still pass legislation but nowhere near as much power as they had before.
If Joe Manchin does decide to jump ship and become an Independent, then there could be huge implications not only for the current White House administration but also for future elections.
It will likely put Republicans in a better position moving forward when it comes to passing legislation through Congress.
However, it may also cause division if Manchin decides his new views do not align with theirs either.
