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Manchin Gives Democrats Major Headache with 2024 Retirement

Headaches for the Democratic Party are becoming all too common as U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has announced he will not be running for re-election in 2024. Manchin’s retirement marks yet another blow to a party that is already struggling to secure a majority in the upper chamber. Manchin has been the deciding vote for some of the most important legislation such as the $2 trillion Covid relief package, the 2020 dreamers bill, and the $1.9 trillion stimulus package. He has been a thorn in the side of progressive lawmakers who have pushed for legislation that Manchin has disagreed with, such as eliminating the filibuster and passing voting rights bills. The West Virginia Senator’s latest retirement has sparked a string of speculations on who will fill the seat in 2024. Republicans Charles W Smith and Jack Newbrough are the most likely candidates, while U.S. Representative David McKinley has also been suggested to run. It is uncertain whether Manchin’s retirement will hurt the Democrats’ chances of retaining their majority in the Senate. Prior to Manchin’s announcement, the Democrats were already in a tough spot with tight races in Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada. Manchin’s retirement now means they could lose 10 seats in the Senate and face a majority of 60-50. It is unclear if Manchin’s retirement was sudden or if he had been planning it for some time. What is clear is that Manchin’s exit will create a huge headache for the Democratic Party. With the Senate elections just around the corner, the Democrats have limited time to find a suitable replacement and rebuild their majority.