Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Independent who previously served as a Democrat, has declared that he will not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president in the 2024 election. This decision comes after Harris expressed her support for abolishing the filibuster, a procedural rule that requires 60 votes to pass most legislation in the Senate, in order to enact abortion-related laws.
Manchin, a staunch defender of the filibuster, believes that eliminating it would have devastating consequences for American democracy. He has repeatedly emphasized that the filibuster safeguards the nation from partisan gridlock and fosters bipartisan cooperation. In a statement released on Tuesday, Manchin asserted that the filibuster “stabilizes our democracy, promotes bipartisan cooperation and protects our nation from partisan whiplash and dysfunction.”
Harris, a former senator herself, had told Wisconsin Public Radio (WPR) on Tuesday, “I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe.” This statement sparked Manchin’s decision to withhold his endorsement, further fueling the debate over the filibuster’s role in shaping American politics.
Manchin has dedicated his last several years to safeguarding the filibuster, even going so far as to call its potential elimination “the saddest day in the history of the United States of America.” He was instrumental in preventing Democrats from abolishing the filibuster in 2021, along with Senator Kyrsten Sinema, who also left the Democrat Party and became an Independent.
While Manchin declined to endorse Harris, he also made it clear that he would not be supporting former President Donald Trump either. “I’m not endorsing anyone,” he stated.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat from New York, declined to comment on the situation, merely stating that the topic would be discussed by the Democratic caucus in the upcoming congressional session. The debate over the filibuster and its implications for the future of American politics continues to be a major point of contention among lawmakers and citizens alike.
