Joe Manchin Leaves Democratic Party, Announces He Will Not Run for President

Senator Joe Manchin has announced that he is leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent.

The West Virginia senator made the announcement on Friday, saying that he believes it is the best way to represent the people of his state.

Manchin, 74, has been a Democrat for his entire political career. He was first elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1982 and served as governor from 2005 to 2010. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2010.

Manchin has been a controversial figure in recent years. He has often broken with his party on key issues, including gun control, climate change, and abortion rights. His decision to leave the Democratic Party is likely to further divide the party, which is already struggling to maintain its majority in the Senate.

Manchin also announced on Friday that he will not be running for president in 2024. He had been considering a run for president as an independent, but he said that he has decided that it is not the best way to serve the people of West Virginia.

Manchin's departure from the Democratic Party is a major blow to the party. He is a popular figure in West Virginia, and his decision to leave is likely to further erode the party's support in the state.