The 2024 election cycle has taken yet another twist.
Panic is setting in amongst Democrats.
And this major 2024 retirement announcement just hit Democrats like a ton of bricks.
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) was one of the most vulnerable incumbents in America.
As a more traditional liberal, Manchin’s refusal to vote for some key aspects of Biden’s woke extremist agenda made him a target for a radical left-wing challenger, while the fact that he still voted for Biden’s agenda more than 85% of the time didn’t ingratiate him to Republicans either, leaving him stuck in a political no man’s land.
With Manchin representing a state former President Donald Trump has won easily with a populist, America First message centered on issues that matter most to working class Americans – the former President won West Virginia by 43-points in 2016, and 39-points in 2020 – he could see the writing on the wall.
After voting for Biden’s Green New Deal – which served as a knife in the backs of West Virginia’s many coal miners – and recognizing that Trump would likely be at the top of the ticket in 2024, Manchin decided not to seek re-election.
“I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life, and decided that I will not be running for re-election to the United States Senate,” Manchin said in a video announcing his decision.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump, as he is want to do, gave himself credit for Manchin’s retirement, claiming that his endorsement of West Virginia Governor Jim Justice – who was elected to his position as a Democrat before suddenly deciding he was a Republican only after it became clear he would face similar issues in his re-election bid in 2020 – in West Virginia’s U.S. Senate race had forced the incumbent Democrat Senator’s hand.
“Because I Endorsed Big Jim Justice of West Virginia for the U.S. Senate, and he has taken a commanding lead, Democrat Joe Manchin has decided not to seek re-election. Looking good for Big Jim!” Trump wrote.
The real consequences of Manchin’s retirement were felt in the battle for the U.S. Senate.
Republicans need to flip two seats to oust Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
Manchin’s retirement likely puts the West Virginia Senate seat in the GOP column, meaning Republicans only need to focus on flipping one more Democrat-held seat to win back the majority – so long as they retain the seats they already hold, of course.
Both parties’ Senate campaign committees put out their spin on Manchin’s retirement.
“We like our odds in West Virginia,” National Republican Senate Campaign Committee’s Chairman Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) declared.
Democrats tried to put on a brave face and claim Republican-held seats in GOP strongholds like Florida and Texas were in play.
“Democrats have multiple pathways to protect and strengthen our Senate majority and are in a strong position to achieve this goal,” Democrat Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesman David Bergstein stated. “In addition to defending our battle-tested incumbents, we’ve already expanded the battleground map to Texas and Florida.”
The past six years have seen Democrats repeatedly talk themselves into believing that races in Florida and Texas are in play for their woke extremist candidates.
But every time, Democrats come up short – and more often than not, very short.
Republicans are also eying Democrat-controlled seats in Ohio, Montana, and other states in which Trump has performed well and is projected to do so again in the future.
And Joe Manchin’s retirement means Republicans now only need to win one of those races to take back the majority.
US Political Daily will keep you updated on any developments to this ongoing story.
