Story thread · 16 reports / 11 sources

Former Democrat Joe Manchin endorses Republican — and calls her the 'soul of the Senate'

conservativereview.com · 9hShare

Democrats are raging at Joe Manchin, the former Democrat U.S. senator, after he endorsed Susan Collins, the incumbent Republican in the race for one of two Senate seats in Maine. Manchin had represented West Virginia but was heavily criticized by Democrats for his moderate voting patterns. He left the Democratic Party in 2024 and became an independent. 'Susan is always in there, always in the trenches.' Rather than endorse the progressive candidate of his former party, Manchin told voters 73-year-old Collins needed to stay in the Senate. "You lose the Susan Collinses of the Senate, you’re losing the soul of the Senate — basically, a person you can talk to, who wants to do the right thing all of the time," he said on CNBC Monday. "Now, everybody says, 'Oh, she doesn’t do this, doesn’t speak up.' Susan is always in there, always in the trenches," he added. Collins released a statement about his endorsement. "Joe is a dear friend and trusted colleague with whom I have always worked closel

First report: Letter: Susan Collins delivers for Maine — bangordailynews.com, 3d