Democrat Joe Manchin says will not seek re-election in 2024

West Virginia’s controversial Democratic US senator Joe Manchin says he will not seek re-election in 2024 and will instead 'fight to unite'. 'After months of deliberation and long conversations with my family, I believe in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia,' the senator said. Manchin’s decision to step down will jeopardise the Democrats’ narrow 51-49 majority in the Senate. Manchin said he would instead be travelling across the US to 'mobilise the middle' as he denounced polarisation in US politics. US Democratic senator Joe Manchin will not seek re-election in 2024