Manchin Says He Won’t Run for Reelection in Blow to Democrats

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin announced Thursday he won’t seek reelection, a blow to Democrats’ prospects for keeping the Senate majority in 2025.

Manchin, 76, is widely seen as the only realistic chance for Democrats to keep the seat in Republican-trending West Virginia, which Donald Trump won by 39 percentage points in 2020.

Senator Joe Manchin

Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg

He hinted in his statement at a potential presidential run as a third-party candidate, which risks drawing support away from President Joe Biden’s bid for reelection.

“What I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest ...