Manchin leaves Democratic Party, files as independent

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat, officially filed as an independent Friday.

“My commitment to do everything I can to bring out country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation,” Manchin posted on the social platform X.

Manchin announced in November that he wouldn’t be running for reelection this year, after serving in the Senate since 2010. Before coming to Congress, he served as the governor of West Virginia from 2005-10.

“Throughout my days in elected office, I have always been proud of my commitment to common sense, bipartisanship and my desire to bring people together. It’s who I am,” Manchin said in a statement released Friday. “It’s who I will always be.”

He signaled Wednesday that he would not enter the governor’s race this year, shooting down rumors that he may campaign again for the office.

In a statement Friday, Manchin said partisanship on both sides has jeopardized democracy. National politics in America is broken, and neither side is willing to compromise, he said.