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Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has confirmed he will not enter the presidential race, quashing rumors of a potential third-party campaign.
Speaking at West Virginia University, Manchin made his intentions clear: “I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run.” This announcement comes after Manchin revealed he would not seek re-election for his Senate seat, though he had left the possibility of a presidential run open until now.

Manchin’s flirtation with a presidential bid had caused concern among Democrats, who feared he could siphon votes from President Biden, potentially acting as a spoiler in the election. His involvement with the No Labels organization, which has been preparing for an independent November bid, elevated these fears. However, Jon Kott, a spokesperson for Manchin, confirmed his plans before the official announcement, signaling Manchin’s shift towards supporting a unifying presidential candidate over seeking office himself.
The national co-chairs of No Labels, including former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), Benjamin Chavis, and former North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R), acknowledged Manchin’s decision, stating, “We welcome Sen. Manchin’s efforts to strengthen the movement for America’s commonsense majority.” They also hinted at ongoing efforts to form a unity ticket, saying, “We are continuing to make great progress on our ballot access efforts and will announce in the coming weeks whether we will offer our line to a Unity ticket.”