Joe Manchin backs Susan Collins, calling her the Senate's moral compass
Former Democratic senator Joe Manchin endorsed Republican Susan Collins in her Maine Senate race, praising her as the "soul of the Senate."
On a national morning show, former West Virginia senator Joe Manchin declared his endorsement of Republican incumbent Susan Collins in her bid for re-election to the U.S. Senate. Manchin, who departed from the Democratic Party in 2024, lauded Collins as the "soul of the Senate," emphasizing her willingness to engage and act responsibly. He pledged to do everything possible to assist her campaign.
Collins is confronting a tough campaign against former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, a contest projected to be one of the most competitive of the cycle. This endorsement follows Manchin's earlier support for Collins in the 2020 election. The statement underscores bipartisan ties amid an increasingly polarized political environment.
Why it matters
The endorsement highlights cross-party alliances in a pivotal Senate race that could affect the chamber's balance.
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