Sen. Joe Manchin’s (D-WV) political and professional future is up in the air after he announced he won’t be on the ballot in November for his coveted Senate seat or as an independent presidential candidate.
The West Virginia senator said when announcing his plans not to seek reelection last November that he planned to travel the country in the hope of being a unifier, sparking discussions of a possible challenge to President Joe Biden. His subsequent visits to early-voting states and refusal to rule out a presidential bid only furthered speculation that he intended to run as an independent.
Manchin had initially said he planned to wait until Super Tuesday, which takes place in early March, before making a decision on a White House bid. However, last Friday, three weeks ahead of the marathon nominating contests, he announced that he would not run for president. Asked on Monday if this meant he was ready to endorse Biden, Manchin replied, “I’m not endorsing anybody right now. We’re going to see what all happens.”
Political watchers are waiting to see what comes next in Manchin’s four-decade career in public service, which culminated in him running the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and becoming the chamber’s leading swing vote.
Now that Manchin, who is leaving the Senate as the chamber’s top bipartisan deal-maker, has confirmed he won’t be a candidate in either race, he likely has many choices to consider as possible next steps.
Multiple Democratic strategists surmised to the Washington Examiner that Manchin would find the majority of those job opportunities in the energy sector, where he could be tapped to lead a company or join some high-profile boards of directors.
“All these energy companies would love to have someone like Joe Manchin on their board or as an advisor in some way, shape, or form,” Chris Coffey, a longtime Democratic strategist and CEO of Tusk Strategies, said. “There’s no shortage of DC consulting companies and law firms that specialize in senior statespeople that can advise their business, advise their clients, advise their boards. And I have no doubt that Joe Manchin will have no shortage of opportunities.”
There’s also the possibility that he is holding out to lead West Virginia University when President Gordon Gee’s term ends next June. Manchin and WVU have not denied reports that the senator is under consideration for the role. The school, Manchin’s alma mater, is in dire financial straits, giving the fiscal conservative an opening to lead WVU out of a crisis situation.
Manchin’s term doesn’t expire until January of next year, giving him ample time to decide what to do next.
If the WVU job doesn’t pan out, he could end up at his daughter Heather Manchin’s nonprofit group, which is in the process of raising over $100 million to promote centrist policies and bipartisanship. The organization is currently separate from the senator, and Manchin’s daughter has denied that the group was set up to help her father’s future political ambitions. Still, the organization could serve as a possible landing pad for the longtime civil servant.
Manchin could also consider getting on the paid speaker circuit, as many A-list political names do after leaving public office.
“There are endless avenues for former lawmakers, especially with his high profile, to monetize their post-political career,” Jon Reinish, a Democratic strategist with Mercury Public Affairs, said, noting that he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Manchin went that route.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one Democratic operative claimed that there were internal party efforts to convince Manchin to run for his Senate seat as an independent. The effort never materialized, and West Virginia’s filing deadline for candidates passed in late January.
Another unlikely scenario would be Manchin serving in the Biden administration, which the outgoing senator has been a thorn in the side of since the 46th president took office.
Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) were scrutinized within the party for their refusal to support eliminating the 60-vote filibuster threshold as the rest of the Senate Democratic Conference got on board, facing an intense, very public pressure campaign to shift their stance on the matter as Biden’s agenda stalled. The two never relented despite being vilified over a grueling two-year period.
The West Virginia senator has also used his authority as Energy and Natural Resources Committee chairman to block the administration’s climate efforts, as well as to derail the confirmation chances of numerous Cabinet nominees.
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Manchin would want to “continue his record of being an antagonist to Joe Biden” in his next role, Reinish said.
A spokesperson for Manchin did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.