Rumors of Senator Joe Manchin’s potential bid for West Virginia governor have prompted a swift response from state Democrats, who are vehemently denying the speculation. The conjecture gained traction after reports emerged that Manchin faced pressure to enter the race during an event at the Greenbrier resort, owned by Governor Jim Justice, who transitioned from Democrat to Republican and is currently the GOP’s Senate nominee to succeed Manchin. However, state officials swiftly contradicted reports indicating that Manchin could replace Steve Williams, the current Democratic gubernatorial nominee, or run against him.
According to an official from the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office, Manchin would need to leave the Democratic Party to pursue the governor’s seat. The deadline for candidates to file for office as a Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or Mountain Party member has already passed, which means Manchin’s options are limited. Unaffiliated candidates may gain ballot access for the November election by gathering signatures from any party’s voters and submitting them before August 1st. However, the candidate must not have been affiliated with any recognized party within 60 days of that filing, effectively making June 1st the cutoff date.
Attempts to contact the West Virginia Republican Party Chairman regarding the matter were unsuccessful. However, in previous statements to WVMetroNews, Chairman Matt Herridge expressed the party’s unwavering support for their gubernatorial nominee, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. On the other hand, Democratic Party Chairman Mike Pushkin categorically rejected the claims of a surprise Manchin bid, suggesting that the rumors originated from Republicans dissatisfied with Morrisey as their candidate.
Del. Pushkin emphasized that Steve Williams is the official Democratic nominee and expressed confidence in his candidacy, highlighting Huntington’s financial struggles and underpaid police force before Williams’s election and his record of not raising taxes. Despite the political headwinds, he believes Williams possesses the necessary qualities to lead the state.
With Manchin’s departure from the Senate imminent, Pushkin also acknowledged the potential Democratic successor, Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott. Elliott’s experience as mayor of the city bordering Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and his tenure working for the late Senator Robert C. Byrd were cited as positive attributes.
In response to the news, the Republican Governors Association emphasized the clarity of Republican voters in selecting Morrisey as their nominee. They asserted that Morrisey is the sole conservative candidate who will confront the Biden administration’s agenda and deliver results for West Virginia families, dismissing the rumors as ineffective wishful thinking. Senator Manchin’s office has yet to respond to requests for comment.
