Former Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced on Monday (September 14th) that he supports two Republican candidates running for the US Senate, including incumbent Senator Susan Collins of Maine and Mike Rogers who is running for Senate in Michigan.
Manchin, known as a moderate Democrat, left the US Senate after the end of his term in 2025. During his time as a Senator, he was known for his moderate stance but faced pressure from within the Democratic party for often voting in support of Republican agendas. He left the Democratic party in May 2024 and registered as an independent, choosing not to run for re-election in 2024.
In the case of the Senate race in Maine, Manchin chose to support Republican Collins over her challenger, Democratic progressive Troy Jackson. Jackson supports “Medicare for All” and advocates for the dismantling of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency.
In an interview with CNBC on Monday, Manchin stated, “If you lose people like Susan Collins in the Senate, you lose the soul of the Senate — someone you can sit down and talk to and want to do the right thing.” Collins currently serves as the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is the longest-serving Republican woman in the Senate. Like Manchin, known for his moderate stance, Collins is one of the few moderate Republicans in the Senate. During their time in the Senate, Manchin and Collins have worked closely on a range of bipartisan initiatives.
Collins expressed gratitude for Manchin’s endorsement in a statement, saying, “Joe is a dear friend and a trusted colleague, and I have worked closely with him to address and achieve results for the people of Maine and Americans.”
During the CNBC interview on Monday, Manchin also expressed his support for another Republican, former US Congressman Mike Rogers who is running for Senate. Rogers is competing with Democratic progressive Abdul El-Sayed for a Senate seat in Michigan, a race crucial for the Republicans as it involves whether the party can retain control of the US Senate.