Although he will not be taking on President Joe Biden as a third-party candidate, soon-to-be-retiring U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) seems determined to remain a thorn in the side of the White House for his remaining time on Capitol Hill.
Following Biden’s pick of several potential federal judges, the West Virginia Democrat asserted that he would refrain from offering his vote for any nominee who does not receive at least a modicum of bipartisan support.
“Just one Republican,” he asserted. “That’s all I’m asking for. Give me something bipartisan. This is my own little filibuster.”
Manchin noted that he had already made his demand known to members of his own party.
“IF they can’t get one Republican, I vote for none,” he added. “I’ve told them that. I said, ‘I’m sick and tired of it. I can’t take it anymore.”
In a separate statement this week, he issued a similar requirement, this time in reference to Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals judicial pick Adeel Mangi.
Sen. Joe Manchin (https://t.co/waPScvSVml) said he would not vote for one of President Biden’s judicial nominees, becoming the second Democratic senator to do so and likely dooming the nomination. https://t.co/wyig2xwNrk
— The Hill (@thehill) March 22, 2024
“I’m going to be very honest with everybody,” he said. “If my Democratic colleagues and friends can’t get one Republican vote, don’t count on me. You can’t make it bipartisan, don’t count on me.”
Such a stance could keep Mangi from being approved as the first Muslim to serve as a federal appeals judge. Not only does he have no GOP support, but another Democrat — Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada — also opposes his confirmation.
Mangi’s record includes an affiliation with the Center for Security, Race, and Rights, a Rutgers University organization that has reportedly hosted lectures by antisemitic speakers and associated with groups that promote terrorism.
“I’m not leaving this place unless I can practice what I preach,” Manchin added. “And I’m preaching, basically, bipartisanship. This is my little way of doing it.”
He gave Democratic leaders a wide opening to ultimately receive his vote of approval, noting that some Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, specifically — are known for their willingness to break with their own party from time to time.
“If you’ve got a decent person, you can get at least one,” Manchin concluded. “Just go as Lisa, go ask Susan, even Lindsey. Lisa and Susan are both not controlled by just voting party line, I know that. But you’ve got to ask them.”
