Joe Manchin announces he won’t be running for president

Centrist Democrat of West Virginia had previously signaled he might launch independent or third-party bid

Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia has announced that he will not be launching a presidential campaign, ending speculation about a run for the White House that would have thrown more chaos and confusion into an already tumultuous 2024 election season.

Manchin, a centrist Democrat from a deep red state, has long been a thorn in the side of his party and especially its left wing. He had regularly signaled that he might launch an independent or third-party bid for the White House.