Manchin leaves Democratic Party, files as independent

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a conservative Democrat, officially filed as an independent Friday.

“My commitment to do everything I can to bring out country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation,” Manchin posted on the social platform X.

Manchin announced in November that he wouldn’t be running for reelection this year, after serving in the Senate since 2010. Before coming to Congress, he served as the governor of West Virginia from 2005-10.

“Throughout my days in elected office, I have always been proud of my commitment to common sense, bipartisanship and my desire to bring people together. It’s who I am,” Manchin said in a statement released Friday. “It’s who I will always be.”

He signaled Wednesday that he would not enter the governor’s race this year, shooting down rumors that he may campaign again for the office.

In a statement Friday, Manchin said partisanship on both sides has jeopardized democracy. National politics in America is broken, and neither side is willing to compromise, he said.

“To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America’s sensible majority,” he said.

Manchin did not say what he plans to do after he leaves office at the end of this term. In March, he said it was a “long shot” that he would run again in the Senate.

The West Virginia senator, 76, had long toyed with the idea of a possible third-party bid for the White House but ruled it out this cycle by telling constituents he would make sure “we secure a president” that can bring the country together.

He said he accomplished what he set out to do for West Virginia, and the decision to not run again for Senate was “one of the toughest decisions of my life.”

In last week’s GOP gubernatorial primary, Moore Capito, the son of Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), lost to West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

Manchin said Democrat Steve Williams has his support in the race. Manchin said Williams has been a friend for 40 years and knows how “hard he’ll work” if elected.

Updated at 10:58 a.m. ET