Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) suggested Republican senators need to remember “who your boss is” in retaking the Senate, reminding them that it is “not the president.”
Manchin, who did not seek reelection in 2024, addressed the debate among Senate Republicans over who should succeed Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as conference leader. In giving his two cents on the matter, Manchin suggested that “likability” is a key factor for Senate majority leaders to have, as being able to work with others is a vital part of the role.
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“And the only thing I would say to all of my colleagues on the Republican and Democrat side: Remember who you work for, remember who your boss is,” Manchin said on CNBC’s Squawk Box. “It’s not the president. It’s basically the people back home that sent you there. That’s who you work for. It’s not the leader, but you want to be able to sit down and know that someone’s listening to you and understands your concerns and can work with you. Once you have that, that’s where the leadership’s going to go.”
The three top contenders for Senate majority leader are Sens. John Thune (R-SD), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Rick Scott (R-FL), all of whom Manchin praised. He noted how he was able to get along well with Thune and Cornyn, both of whom are “very knowledgeable people.” He also noted he has “a good relationship” with Scott but that the Florida Republican is “harder right than the other two.”
Regardless of who replaces McConnell, Manchin said senators “should work” with him. He also suggested that Democratic senators stay out of this “internal” decision among Republicans.
Manchin also addressed President-elect Donald Trump’s selection for his Cabinet, stating the former president is hiring “very competent” people. He added that people should want their president to succeed regardless of political affiliation, as a president who does well produces a successful country.
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Shortly after Trump won the 2024 election against Vice President Kamala Harris, whose Democratic Party also lost control of the Senate, Manchin assessed that the party “forgot” its voting base of people who are “fiscally responsible and socially compassionate.” Manchin himself swapped his party registration from Democratic to independent earlier this year.
Come Jan. 3, 2025, Manchin’s seat will be occupied by Sen.-elect Jim Justice, one of four Republican candidates who flipped seats, paving the way for the party to retake the Senate. One of the biggest Senate races in 2024 was in Pennsylvania, where Sen.-elect Dave McCormick (R-PA) beat Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA).