Senator Joe Manchin (Indiana/Virginia), who left the Democratic Party, said he would not support Vice President Harris for president after she indicated she supported abolishing the filibuster to pass abortion bills.
“I'm not going to let this go to waste,” Ms. Harris, a former senator, said in Wisconsin. “I think we should abolish the filibuster on Roe,” he said Tuesday, according to WPR news agency.
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U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-West Virginia) spoke to reporters as he left the Senate floor after a vote in Washington, DC, on January 23, 2024. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images)
“I'm not endorsing her,” Manchin told Fox News, emphasizing the importance of constitutional standards.
“I've been very, very, very clear that I strongly believe that as we go down that dangerous path, we're not doing it just for one issue,” he explained.
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Harris said she supports abolishing the filibuster to pass abortion protection legislation. (Countess Jemal)
Manchin has spent the last few years fighting to protect the filibuster, which blocks most bills from moving forward to a vote if they cannot clear the procedural hurdle of 60 votes. He has previously said the filibuster is vital to our democracy and that it would be “the saddest day in American history” if Democrats were successful in abolishing it.
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Sinema and Manchin are credited with preserving the filibuster. (Getty Images)
Sen. Bill Clinton of West Virginia and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona both decided not to seek reelection but received significant credit for blocking Democrats' slim majorities from eliminating the filibuster in 2021. Both senators have since left the Democratic Party and registered as independents while continuing to meet with Democrats in the Senate.
Schumer did not comment on the matter. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
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“This standard stabilizes our democracy, promotes bipartisan cooperation, and protects our nation from partisan conflict and dysfunction. I have always said, 'If you can't change your mind, you can't change anything,' and I expect the Vice President to remain poised to do just that,” Manchin said in a statement Tuesday.
Manchin also clarified to Fox News that he would not be endorsing former President Trump in the election. “I'm not endorsing anybody,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York avoided getting involved at a Democratic leadership news conference, telling reporters, “This is an issue that will be discussed by our caucus in the next Congress.”
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