Manchin may run for president as a third-party candidate.

Is Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) considering a third-party presidential bid in 2024? Recent actions suggest he just might be. According to Axios, Manchin recently spoke to business leaders in Iowa, stating that his politics are “fiscally responsible and socially compassionate.” He also appealed to Democrat voters in the state by taking a different stance than many Democrats, saying: “I believe the government should be your partner. I’m not your provider.”

While Manchin did not explicitly state that he was leaving the party, he has increasingly opposed elements of President Joe Biden’s agenda and said in a statement this week that he will oppose all of Biden’s EPA nominees due to their “radical climate agenda” and “their government overreach.”

Despite potential challenges, Manchin’s “main concern” is trying to figure out: “How do we save this nation? How do we bring people together to protect the quality of life, the values that we’ve had that we were raised with?” He believes that fighting for the reasonable, responsible middle is crucial, and that “there’s no options” currently available.

Manchin’s recent actions have raised eyebrows, particularly when he declined to call himself a Democrat during an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” He stated that he identifies as an American through and through. When asked about his political future, Manchin said that “everything’s on the table,” including the presidency.

It remains to be seen whether Manchin will launch a third-party presidential bid in 2024, but his recent actions and statements suggest that he is considering all options to best support and represent the people of West Virginia and the country as a whole.