What Democrats Can Learn From Joe Manchin, a ‘D’ in a Trump state

Joe Manchin is in for a tough race in 2018.

President Donald Trump won the senator’s state of West Virginia by 42 percentage points in 2016.

Manchin is the only Democrat in West Virginia’s congressional delegation. The state’s junior senator, Shelley Moore Capito, won her 2014 race by 28 percentage points.

Once reliably Democratic, West Virginia has become increasingly red over the past decade, raising doubts about whether the Democratic Party has a viable future in the state.

Nonetheless, Joe Manchin persists.

The non-partisan Cook Political Report rates him as likely to win re-election in 2018. Meanwhile, the website FiveThirtyEight sees him as, “at worst, a 50-50 bet to win re-election and perhaps a slight favorite.”

The #GOP-aligned Senate Leadership Fund has found its 1st target for 2018 midterms – @JoeManchinWV of West Virginia https://t.co/j49162HOi4

— OpenSecrets.org (@OpenSecretsDC) March 20, 2017

For everything Manchin has done to keep his Senate seat in Democratic hands, the party’s more liberal base isn’t doing him (or for that matter the party) any favors. Manchin has enough to do without having to worry about the threat of a primary challenge from the left.

Instead of making the misguided decision to go after Manchin, Democrats should look to the senator as an example of how to succeed in a shifting political environment. Here are some ideas:

Be an “honest broker.”

Say what you will about his politics, but the man is a straight talker. Manchin describes himself as an “honest broker,” and he’s got a record to back it up. He’s earned the respect of both Republican and Democratic colleagues and constituents because he’s not afraid to have an honest discussion. They know where he’s coming from. At a time when trust in America’s political institutions is at historic lows, our government needs more people who play it straight.  

Talk to real people.  

More and more people are interacting with their elected officials on social media, but it’s no substitute for face-to-face discussion. Town halls are great; one-on-one and small group conversations are even better. Manchin has mastered the art of retail politics. He meets with veterans at VFWs, coal miners at union halls. His constituents know he cares because he takes the time, in person, to listen to their concerns and offer ideas to help.

Make it less about issues, more about values.

There is no doubt that Manchin can speak with authority on health care benefits for miners. But that’s not why he connects with voters. Manchin’s success is in his ability to appeal to people’s values and emotions. He resonates with voters across the political spectrum because he can identify their shared values and speak their shared language.

Look for common ground.

{mosads}Partisanship in Washington is toxic. Too many issues are portrayed as black and white; nuance is the enemy. In reality, Americans are ambivalent about any number of issues, like gun reform — an issue where Manchin excels at bridging the divide.

Manchin is undoubtedly pro-Second Amendment. He’s a gun owner, a hunter, and a “card-carrying life member of the National Rifle Association.” He also supports expanding background checks for gun buyers because he knows doing so is necessary to protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners and keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Manchin doesn’t dismiss either side; he looks for and finds areas of agreement.

Stick to who you are.

Manchin consistently takes flak from both the left and the right, but it doesn’t phase him. “Vote me out!” he told political activists recently. “I’m not changing!” Manchin could switch parties, and it wouldn’t surprise a lot of people. Yes, there are obvious downsides to doing so, but that’s not the point. Manchin is consistent. He’s not afraid to mix it up with Democrats one minute and the Trump administration the next. Manchin knows who he is, where he stands, and so do his constituents, who continue to support him for it.

If Democrats are serious about making gains in 2018, they should look at Joe Manchin — not as a target, but as a model for how to connect with voters and win.

Mike Burns is communications director for Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.).

The views expressed by contributors are their own and are not the views of The Hill.