Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Joe Manchin
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Joe Manchin.
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'.
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.
2009: Manchin's Financial Disclosures Reported
In 2009, Joe Manchin's financial disclosures reported earnings of $1,363,916 from Energysystems, leading to scrutiny due to his family ties to the coal industry.
December 9, 2010: Vote Against Cloture for National Defense Authorization Act
On December 9, 2010, Joe Manchin was the sole Democrat to vote against cloture for the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, which contained a provision to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. He cited advice from retired military chaplains and a desire for more time to hear from West Virginians as reasons for his vote.
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: Voted Against Cloture for Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act
In 2010, Joe Manchin voted against cloture for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act, though he did not vote on the bill itself, showcasing his stance on military policy.
2010: Manchin's Financial Disclosures Reported
In 2010, Joe Manchin's financial disclosures reported earnings of $417,255 from Energysystems, drawing criticism related to potential conflicts of interest due to his connections to the coal industry.
2011: Manchin Supports Energy Tax Prevention Act
In 2011, Joe Manchin was the only Democratic senator to support the Energy Tax Prevention Act, which sought to prohibit the EPA from regulating greenhouse gas emissions, drawing criticism from environmental groups.
2011: Vote Against Cloture for National Defense Authorization Act
On December 9, 2010, Joe Manchin was the sole Democrat to vote against cloture for the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, which contained a provision to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell.
December 2012: Voiced displeasure with MTV's Buckwild
In December 2012, Manchin voiced his displeasure with MTV's reality show Buckwild, which was set in Charleston, West Virginia. He asked the network's president to cancel the show, contending that it depicted West Virginia negatively.
2012: Manchin Supports GOP Effort to Scuttle EPA Regulations
In 2012, Joe Manchin supported a failed GOP effort to "scuttle Environmental Protection Agency regulations that mandate cuts in mercury pollution and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants", while West Virginia's other senator, Jay Rockefeller, did not.
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.
2013: National Journal Gave Manchin an Overall Score of 55% Conservative and 46% Liberal
In 2013, the National Journal gave Joe Manchin an overall score of 55% conservative and 46% liberal, highlighting his centrist political positioning.
November 2014: Manchin Steps Down from Honorary Post with No Labels
In November 2014, Joe Manchin stepped down from his honorary post with No Labels after the organization campaigned for a Republican challenger to an incumbent Democratic senator.
December 2014: Manchin Signs Letter Urging EPA to Give States More Time to Comply with Power Plant Rule
In December 2014, Joe Manchin was one of six Democratic senators to sign a letter to the EPA urging it to give states more time to comply with its rule on power plants and calling for an elimination of the 2020 targets in the final rule, reflecting concerns about the impact on West Virginia's coal industry.
2014: Proposed Changes to Social Security
In 2014, Manchin proposed changes to Social Security, including adjusting payroll taxes on an inflationary basis and modifying Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) for higher-income recipients.
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.
August 3, 2015: Manchin Votes to Terminate Federal Funding for Planned Parenthood
On August 3, 2015, Joe Manchin broke with Democratic leadership by voting in favor of a Republican-sponsored bill to terminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood both in the United States and globally.
2015: Only Senate Democrat to Oppose Same-Sex Marriage
As of 2015, Joe Manchin was the only member of the Senate Democratic Caucus to oppose same-sex marriage.
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: 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.
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.
March 30, 2017: Manchin Votes Against H.J.Res. 43
On March 30, 2017, Joe Manchin voted against H.J.Res. 43, a bill that allowed states to refuse Title X grant money to organizations based on factors unrelated to their ability to provide services. Trump signed the bill.
April 2017: Manchin Endorses Continued Funding of Planned Parenthood
In April 2017, Joe Manchin endorsed the continued funding of Planned Parenthood, reflecting his nuanced stance on abortion-related issues.
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 26, 2017: Opposition to Trump's Proposed Ban on Transgender Service
On July 26, 2017, Joe Manchin voiced opposition to President Trump's proposed ban on transgender service in the United States military.
August 2017: Public Clash with Patrick Morrisey
In August 2017, Patrick Morrisey publicly asked Joe Manchin to resign from the Senate Democratic leadership, leading to a heated response from Manchin, demonstrating political tensions.
January 2018: Manchin Votes for Bill to Ban Abortion After 20 Weeks
In January 2018, Joe Manchin joined two other Democrats and most Republicans in voting for a bill to ban abortion after 20 weeks, demonstrating his conservative leanings on abortion.
February 2018: Congressional Quarterly Study Finds Manchin Voted with Trump 71% of the Time
In February 2018, a Congressional Quarterly study reported that Joe Manchin voted with President Trump's position 71% of the time during Trump's first year in office.
June 2018: Manchin Urges Trump to Appoint a Centrist Supreme Court Justice
In June 2018, after Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement, Joe Manchin urged Trump not to appoint a judge who would seek to overturn Roe v. Wade but to instead choose a "centrist".
June 18, 2018: Opposition to Trump administration family separation policy
On June 18, 2018, Joe Manchin came out against the Trump administration's family separation policy.
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: Voted to ease Dodd-Frank banking rules
In 2018, Manchin was among 17 Democrats who voted with Republicans to ease the Dodd-Frank banking regulations.
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: 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.
March 18, 2019: Only Senate Democrat Not Cosponsoring the Equality Act
As of March 18, 2019, Joe Manchin was the only member of the Senate Democratic Caucus who was not a cosponsor of the Equality Act, citing concerns about sufficient guidance for local officials implementing it.
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.
September 2019: Vote on homeland security measure
In September 2019, Joe Manchin was the only Democrat on the Senate Appropriations panel to vote for a $71 billion homeland security measure that granted Trump the $5 billion he had previously requested to build roughly 200 miles of fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.
2019: Manchin Votes for Bill Requiring Care for Infants Born Alive After Failed Abortion
In 2019, Joe Manchin was one of three Democrats to join all Republicans in voting for a bill requiring doctors to care for infants born alive after a failed abortion, highlighting his conservative stance on abortion issues.
May 2020: Manchin Receives Significant Funding from Oil and Gas Industry
Starting in May 2020, Joe Manchin received the most funding from the oil and gas industry of any senator, including $1.6 million in donations from fossil fuel PACs, until May 2021.
November 10, 2020: Manchin Expresses Doubt About D.C. Statehood
In a November 10, 2020, interview, Joe Manchin said that he did not "see the need for the D.C. statehood with the type of services that we're getting in D.C. right now" and that he was "not convinced that's the way to go."
2020: Manchin Signs Letter Urging EPA to Give States More Time to Comply with Power Plant Rule
Joe Manchin signed a letter to the EPA urging it to eliminate the 2020 targets in the final rule in December 2014, reflecting concerns about the impact on West Virginia's coal industry.
January 10, 2021: Manchin Comments on Statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico
In a January 10, 2021, interview, Joe Manchin did not affirm his opposition to statehood for D.C. or Puerto Rico, saying only, "I don't know enough about that yet. I want to see the pros and cons. So I'm waiting to see all the facts".
February 2, 2021: Opposed $15 federal minimum wage
On February 2, 2021, Manchin announced his opposition to increasing the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour, suggesting a smaller increase to $11 and index-linking above that amount.
March 2021: Vote on Amendment Regarding Transgender Athletes
In March 2021, Joe Manchin was the only Democrat to vote for a failed amendment to rescind funding from public schools that allow transgender youth to participate in the sporting teams of their gender identity.
April 30, 2021: Manchin Comes Out Against D.C. Statehood Bill
On April 30, 2021, Joe Manchin publicly opposed the D.C. Statehood bill that had passed the House of Representatives, suggesting that D.C. could instead be given statehood by constitutional amendment.
May 2021: Manchin Receives Significant Funding from Oil and Gas Industry
Until May 2021, Joe Manchin received the most funding from the oil and gas industry of any senator since May 2020, including $1.6 million in donations from fossil fuel PACs.
June 6, 2021: Expressed Opposition to the For the People Act
On June 6, 2021, Manchin expressed his opposition to the For the People Act due to its lack of bipartisan support, while supporting a reinforced version of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. This stance led to accusations of supporting Jim Crow laws from some Democratic lawmakers.
June 2021: ExxonMobil Lobbyist Keith McCoy Comments on Manchin
In June 2021, ExxonMobil lobbyist Keith McCoy stated that Joe Manchin was a key target for funding and that he participated in weekly meetings with the company.
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.
February 2022: Manchin Votes Against Women's Health Protection Act
In February 2022, Joe Manchin was the only Democratic senator to vote against the Women's Health Protection Act, an abortion proposal that would have limited states' ability to restrict abortion access.
May 2022: Manchin Opposes Women's Health Protection Act Again
In May 2022, Joe Manchin stated that he would again vote against the Women's Health Protection Act, which included codifying federal abortion rights, citing that the bill went too far. He indicated support for a narrower measure that still included codifying Roe.
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.
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 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.
