The political careers of Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) are effectively over at the conclusion of the 118th Congress. But both men are now openly flirting with independent bids for their Senate seats that are likely to be entirely fruitless.

Manchin, the last Democrat to reach Congress from the state of West Virginia, announced months ago that he will forgo running for another term in office as he stared down a nearly impossible general election matchup against popular Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV).