Former Senator Joe Manchin has revealed that he privately wanted Republicans to win control of the U.S. Senate in the 2024 elections, a move he says was aimed at stopping his own party from consolidating unchecked power.
In his new book, Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense, Manchin writes that Democratic leaders were pushing to eliminate the Senate filibuster, a step he believed would have undermined the institution and handed Democrats what he described as “raw political power.”
Manchin, who left the Democratic Party to become an Independent earlier this year, said he viewed Republican control as the only way to preserve the filibuster. He accused Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other top Democrats of trying to restructure the rules not for balance, but for partisan advantage.
Throughout his career, Manchin often clashed with his party over spending, energy policy, and Senate procedure. His latest admission underscores his role as a political outlier, one who repeatedly prioritized institutional rules over party loyalty.
Manchin’s disclosure adds another layer to the debate over the filibuster, which has long been a sticking point between Democrats seeking to advance sweeping reforms and moderates who view the rule as a safeguard against one-party dominance. His account suggests that the fight over Senate rules was pivotal in shaping his break from the Democratic Party.