Sen. Manchin is the last in a line of formidable West Virginia Democrats who promoted coal interests
BY LEAH WILLINGHAM and JOHN RABY
Associated Press
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Joe Manchin’s impending departure from the Senate marks the end of an era for powerful West Virginia Democrats who wielded considerable power as advocates for the state’s coal interests. His decision not to seek reelection in 2024 is the latest sign of the party’s steady decline in the state that often has paralleled the demise of Appalachian coal. All along, Manchin has worked to cast himself as the reasonable man in the middle. But as national Democrats moved away from fossil fuels in an effort to combat climate change, Manchin struggled to find middle ground that would keep him politically viable back home.