West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin Announces 2018 Reelection Bid: Washington Doesn’t Have To Suck

ABC News reports:



Sen. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, is confirming he will seek re-election, quelling his party’s fears that if he retired a Republican could win his seat. Manchin warned Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and other fellow Democrats about his frustrations with Washington politics Tuesday before conceding he plans to run again, according to the New York Times.

In an interview with the Times, Manchin admitted he told them, “this place sucks.” He clarified that remark on Wednesday, telling CNN, “I said the place sucks when it doesn’t work. I get a little frustrated at times. I let it fly that day.”

Manchin is considered the most conservative Democrat in the Senate, and most recently voted against the government shutdown. Nevertheless, he’s been a central figure on immigration reform, leveraging his middle-of-the-road ideology to propose a bipartisan solution that includes shielding Dreamers from deportation.