Challenges Faced by Joe Manchin: Obstacles and Turning Points
A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Joe Manchin's life and career.
Joe Manchin is an American businessman and former politician who served as a U.S. Senator for West Virginia from 2010 to 2025. Previously, he was the 34th Governor of West Virginia (2005-2010) and the Secretary of State of West Virginia (2001-2005). Manchin, initially a Democrat and later an independent, co-founded and led Enersystems, a coal brokerage firm owned by his family. His background in the coal industry has significantly shaped his political identity, earning him the description of a 'coal baron'.
1996: Lost Gubernatorial Primary Election
In 1996, Joe Manchin ran for governor but lost in the Democratic primary election to Charlotte Pritt, leading him to support the Republican candidate.
July 2005: Massey Energy CEO Sued Manchin
In July 2005, Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship sued Joe Manchin, alleging violation of First Amendment rights due to threatened scrutiny of coal operations in retaliation for political activities.
January 2006: Sago Mine Disaster Miscommunication
During the Sago Mine disaster in early January 2006, Joe Manchin confirmed incorrect reports of 12 miners surviving, which he later acknowledged as a miscommunication.
February 1, 2006: Ordered Stop to Coal Production After Mining Deaths
On February 1, 2006, Joe Manchin ordered a stop to all coal production in West Virginia pending safety checks after two more miners were killed, reflecting concerns about mine safety.
2010: Republicans Attempt to Court Manchin to Switch Parties
Before his Senate swearing-in in 2010, rumors circulated that the Republican Party was attempting to recruit Joe Manchin to switch parties. Republicans later suggested that Manchin was the source of the rumors.
2010: Calls for changes to the Affordable Care Act
In 2010, Joe Manchin called for "repairs" to the Affordable Care Act and the repeal of "bad parts of Obamacare."
2010: Absence from DREAM Act vote
In 2010, Joe Manchin was absent from a vote on the DREAM Act. He is opposed to the DREAM Act.
June 2011: Seeking Crackdown on Bitcoin Currency Transactions
In June 2011, Joe Manchin joined Senator Chuck Schumer in seeking a crackdown on Bitcoin currency transactions, citing concerns about facilitating illegal drug trade.
April 17, 2013: Defeat of Manchin-Toomey Bill
On April 17, 2013, the Manchin-Toomey bill, aimed at strengthening background checks on gun sales, was defeated in the Senate by a vote of 54-46.
August 2013: Response to Ghouta Chemical Attack
In August 2013, following the Ghouta chemical attack, Joe Manchin stated that there was no doubt an attack occurred under the Assad regime, but it was not clear if Assad gave the order himself. He opposed strikes on the Syrian Government and introduced a resolution for President Obama to develop a long-term strategy and ensure the destruction of Syria's chemical weapons.
2013: Criticism for Interview Restrictions
In 2013, Joe Manchin was criticized for agreeing to an interview but demanding that he not be asked any questions about gun control or the Second Amendment.
July 2014: Sued by brother over $1.7 million loan
In July 2014, John Manchin II, one of Manchin's brothers, sued Manchin and his other brother, Roch Manchin, over a $1.7 million loan related to the family carpet business.
September 16, 2014: Opposition to Arming Syrian Opposition Fighters
On September 16, 2014, Joe Manchin announced he would vote against a possible Senate resolution to arm Syrian opposition fighters, stating concerns about arms being used against the U.S.
2014: Republicans Attempt to Court Manchin to Switch Parties
In 2014, after Republicans gained control of the Senate, they again attempted to convince Joe Manchin to switch parties. He rejected their overtures, remaining a Democrat.
June 30, 2015: Lawsuit from brother withdrawn
On June 30, 2015, John Manchin II withdrew the lawsuit he filed against Manchin and his other brother, Roch Manchin, in July 2014 regarding a $1.7 million loan.
2016: Speculation About Manchin Becoming a Republican
As the 2016 elections approached, reports speculated that Joe Manchin would become a Republican if the Senate were in a 50–50 tie. He later stated he would remain a Democrat at least as long as he remained in the Senate.
2016: Reading letters to the Senate about opioid deaths
During 2016, Joe Manchin read to the Senate several letters from constituents about loved ones' deaths from opioids and urged his colleagues to act to prevent more deaths.
2016: Remarks on Gun Control and Due Process
In 2016, Joe Manchin stated that "due process is what's killing us right now" regarding the difficulty of preventing potential terrorists from acquiring guns after the Orlando nightclub shooting. This statement was criticized by the NRA and the Cato Institute, who felt Manchin was attacking a fundamental constitutional principle.
2016: Americans for Democratic Action Gave Manchin a 35% Liberal Quotient
In 2016, the progressive PAC Americans for Democratic Action gave Joe Manchin a 35% liberal quotient, reflecting his moderate political stance.
January 14, 2017: Concerns over repealing Obamacare
On January 14, 2017, Joe Manchin expressed concern over the strict party-line vote on repealing Obamacare. He stated that he could not vote to repeal without a replacement plan in place, but was willing to work with President Trump and the GOP to create one.
February 2017: Vote to confirm Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator
In February 2017, Joe Manchin was one of two Democratic senators who voted to confirm Scott Pruitt as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
April 2017: Statement on North Korea
In April 2017, Joe Manchin stated that North Korea had "to understand that we will retaliate" following a North Korean official declaring a dangerous situation regarding thermonuclear war.
April 2017: Letter to Trump on Chinese Steel
In April 2017, Joe Manchin was one of eight Democratic senators to sign a letter to President Trump regarding government-subsidized Chinese steel hurting the American steel industry, urging Trump to raise the issue with China's President Xi Jinping.
June 2017: Warning about opioid crisis and Obamacare repeal
In June 2017, Joe Manchin and Bob Casey Jr. warned that repealing Obamacare would worsen the opioid crisis.
June 2017: Co-sponsorship of Israel Anti-Boycott Act
In June 2017, Joe Manchin co-sponsored the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S.270), which aimed to criminalize participation in boycotts against Israel and Israeli settlements.
June 2017: Support of Trump's withdrawal from Paris climate accord
In June 2017, Joe Manchin supported President Donald Trump's withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, stating his support for a "cleaner energy future" but criticizing the deal for failing to balance the environment and the economy.
June 2017: Vote against Senate resolution disapproving arms sales to Saudi Arabia
In June 2017, Joe Manchin was one of five Democrats who voted against a Senate resolution disapproving of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, ensuring its failure.
July 2017: Working on a new health-care program
In July 2017, Joe Manchin said that he was one of about ten senators from both parties who had been "working together behind the scenes" to formulate a new health-care program, but that there was otherwise insufficient bipartisanship on the issue.
September 2017: Skepticism of single-payer health care system
In September 2017, Joe Manchin released a statement expressing skepticism that a single-payer health care system was "the right solution." He noted his support for the Senate considering "all of the options through regular order so that we can fully understand the impacts of these ideas on both our people and our economy."
October 2017: Comments Following the Las Vegas Shooting
In October 2017, Joe Manchin said that progress on gun legislation would require President Trump's support and suggested reviving the Manchin-Toomey bill if it could attract enough Republican cosponsors, following the Las Vegas shooting.
November 2017: Co-sponsorship of bill to broaden ability to prevent foreign purchases of U.S. firms
In November 2017, Joe Manchin was one of nine senators to cosponsor a bill that would broaden the federal government's ability to prevent foreign purchases of U.S. firms.
2017: Proposal to President Trump to address the opioid crisis
During 2017, Joe Manchin took "an unusual proposal" to President Trump to address the opioid crisis and called for a "war on drugs" that involves not punishment but treatment. He also proposed the LifeBOAT Act, which would fund treatment.
January 2018: Vote to confirm Alex Azar as Health Secretary
In January 2018, Joe Manchin was one of six Democrats who broke with their party to vote to confirm Trump's nominee for Health Secretary, Alex Azar.
January 2018: Opposed the Government Shutdown
In January 2018, Manchin opposed the government shutdown, with The New York Times reporting he threatened not to run for reelection unless Democrats ended it.
March 2018: Blaming China for Trump's Tariffs
In March 2018, Joe Manchin blamed China for President Trump's imposition of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
May 2018: Accusation Against Kim Jong-un
In May 2018, Joe Manchin accused Kim Jong-un of accelerating "the nuclear threat" of North Korea to receive concessions and stated Kim was "in a serious, serious problem with his country and the people in his country" without China.
October 2018: Criticism of McConnell's Entitlement Reform Comments
In October 2018, Joe Manchin strongly opposed entitlement reform, calling Mitch McConnell's comments on reforming Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare "absolutely ridiculous."
2018: Challenged in Democratic Primary by Paula Jean Swearengin
In 2018, Joe Manchin was challenged in the Democratic primary by Paula Jean Swearengin, an activist and coal miner's daughter, but he won the primary with 70% of the vote.
2018: Signals Opposition to Build Back Better Act
In December 2021, the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), which represents West Virginia coal miners and endorsed Manchin in the 2018 United States Senate election in West Virginia, urged him to revisit his opposition to the Biden-supported Build Back Better Act
January 2019: Support for Bills to End Government Shutdown
In January 2019, Joe Manchin supported both Republican and Democratic bills to end a government shutdown, being the only Democrat to break from his party and vote in favor of the Republican proposal.
February 2019: Drafting of Middle East Policy Bill
In February 2019, Joe Manchin and Marco Rubio drafted a Middle East policy bill with provisions rebuking President Trump and authorizing state governments to punish companies opposing Israel.
February 2019: Opposition to the Green New Deal
In February 2019, Joe Manchin expressed his opposition to the Green New Deal after Mitch McConnell called for a vote on the plan.
April 2019: Vote to confirm David Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior
In April 2019, Joe Manchin was one of three Democratic senators who voted with Republicans to confirm David Bernhardt, an oil executive, as Secretary of the Interior.
May 2019: Cosponsorship of South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act
In May 2019, Joe Manchin cosponsored the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act, a bill intended to disrupt China's claims of jurisdiction over the sea and air space in disputed zones.
August 1, 2019: Statement Against Bipartisan Budget Deal
On August 1, 2019, Joe Manchin, along with Tom Carper, Mitt Romney, and Rick Scott, issued a statement asserting that they could not vote for the bipartisan budget deal that raised spending over current levels by $320 billion and lifted the debt ceiling due to fiscal concerns.
August 2019: Statements Following El Paso and Dayton Shootings
In August 2019, following mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton, Joe Manchin stated that President Trump had "a golden opportunity" to improve safety by supporting background checks. He also disagreed with Steve Scalise's position on existing background check measures.
September 30, 2021: Manchin Confronted About Potential Conflict of Interest
On September 30, 2021, Joe Manchin was questioned by an MSNBC news reporter about a potential conflict of interest related to his company, Enersystems, and its connection to the Build Back Better Act. Manchin responded that his assets were in a blind trust.
October 2021: Named a "climate villain" by The Guardian
In October 2021, The Guardian named Joe Manchin one of the United States' top "climate villains", asserting that he uses his position to hold climate legislation hostage on behalf of the fossil fuel industry.
December 2021: Expresses displeasure with pressure tactics over Build Back Better Act
In December 2021, Joe Manchin expressed displeasure with the tactics Democrats used to pressure him into supporting the Build Back Better Act, stating, "They figure, 'surely to God we can move one person. Surely, we can badger and beat one person up.'"
December 2021: Signals Opposition to Build Back Better Act
In December 2021, Joe Manchin signaled that he was not likely to vote for the Biden-supported Build Back Better Act, citing growing inflation, the national debt, and the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as reasons for his opposition.
2021: Opposition to the "Clean Electricity Performance Program"
In 2021, Joe Manchin opposed the "Clean Electricity Performance Program" in a budget reconciliation bill, which led to its removal from the bill.
2021: Republicans Urge Manchin to Join Republican Party
In 2021, during his opposition to the Biden-supported Build Back Better bill, several Republicans urged Joe Manchin to join the Republican Party, with figures like Mitch McConnell and others suggesting the move on Fox News appearances.
January 2022: Spent Heavily on Private Security
In January 2022, it was reported that Joe Manchin "spent heavily on private security" during the last three months of 2021 due to progressive protests and specific threats.
2022: Donald Trump Suggests Manchin Should Have Joined the Republican Party
In 2022, former Republican president Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post that Joe Manchin should have been brought into the Republican Party long ago, reflecting ongoing speculation about Manchin's political alignment.
February 2023: Report on Manchin's Displeasure with Inflation Reduction Act Implementation
In February 2023, Politico reported that Joe Manchin was "livid" over how the Biden administration was implementing the Inflation Reduction Act, particularly regarding delays in new guidelines on electric vehicle tax credits.
May 2023: Manchin Stoked Presidential Run Rumors
In May 2023, Joe Manchin refused to rule out running for president of the United States as a third-party candidate in 2024, stoking rumors by holding a call with No Labels supporters and meeting with influential community leaders from Iowa.
June 2023: Manchin Stoked Presidential Run Rumors
In June 2023, Joe Manchin refused to rule out running for president of the United States as a third-party candidate in 2024, continuing to fuel speculation about his presidential ambitions.
November 9, 2023: Manchin Announces He Will Not Seek Reelection in 2024
On November 9, 2023, Joe Manchin announced that he will not seek reelection in 2024, citing months of deliberation with his family and a desire to travel the country to explore creating a movement to mobilize the middle.
February 16, 2024: Manchin Announces He Will Not Run for President
On February 16, 2024, Joe Manchin announced that he would not be running for president of the United States.
July 21, 2024: Manchin Expresses Interest in Running for President at DNC
After President Biden withdrew from the 2024 race on July 21, 2024, Joe Manchin expressed interest in running for president at the 2024 Democratic National Convention, but opted not to, citing a preference for an open contest and later refused to endorse Kamala Harris due to her stance on the filibuster.
2024: Manchin Announces He Would Not Seek Reelection in 2024
In 2024, Joe Manchin announced that he would not seek reelection in 2024, signaling the end of his Senate career.
2024: Manchin Registers as Independent and Declines Reelection
In 2024, Joe Manchin registered as an independent, announced he would not run for reelection, and voiced his regret over voting for the American Rescue Plan, claiming it contributed to increased inflation.
2024: Manchin Considered Third Party Presidential Run
Throughout 2024, Joe Manchin was considered as a potential third party presidential candidate with support from the centrist group No Labels.
