A longtime Democratic senator known for his bipartisanship has once again crossed political lines in support of a friend who just happens to be a onetime Republican colleague.
Former Sen. Joe Manchin has endorsed Republican Sen. Susan Collins for reelection in Maine, giving the veteran senator a notable boost as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of the Senate in the November midterms.
Manchin, who represented West Virginia as a Democrat before registering as an independent in 2024, praised Collins during an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” and said the Senate needs lawmakers willing to work with members of the opposing party.
“You lose the Susan Collinses of the Senate, you’re losing the soul of the Senate,” Manchin said while discussing the Maine contest.
Advertisement
Manchin also said he plans to travel to Maine to campaign for Collins as she seeks a sixth term, declaring, “I’m gonna do everything I can to help.”
The endorsement reflects a longstanding political relationship between two senators who built reputations for occasionally breaking with their respective parties and participating in bipartisan negotiations during their overlapping years in Congress.
Advertisement
Manchin and Collins were members of the bipartisan group that negotiated the 2021 infrastructure package, which ultimately became the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and directed federal money toward roads, bridges, broadband and other projects.
Both senators also supported the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which made several changes to federal gun laws while providing additional funding for mental health services and school security programs.
They were also involved in the bipartisan effort that produced the Electoral Count Reform Act, which clarified the vice president’s limited role in counting electoral votes and raised the threshold required for members of Congress to object to a state’s electoral votes.
Their political relationship stretches back years, and Manchin similarly endorsed Collins during her difficult 2020 reelection campaign against then-Democrat nominee Sara Gideon.
Advertisement
Collins ultimately won that race by nearly nine percentage points despite polling and outside forecasts that had suggested a substantially closer contest.
This year, Collins is running against former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, who won the Democratic nomination and is attempting to unseat one of the longest-serving Republicans currently in the Senate.
Jackson has centered his campaign on affordability, health care, workers’ rights and economic inequality while arguing that Maine needs a senator more willing to challenge Republican policies in Washington.
Advertisement
He has also targeted Collins over abortion and her relationship with President Donald Trump, arguing that her occasional breaks with the administration do not erase votes she has cast for major Republican priorities.
Collins, meanwhile, has emphasized her seniority and bipartisan record while pointing to occasions when she has opposed Trump or other members of Republican leadership.
During an October debate, Collins highlighted disagreements with Trump over issues including tariffs, immigration enforcement and military policy while defending her approach of evaluating administration proposals individually rather than automatically following her party.
Collins also remains one of seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, although the Senate fell short of the two-thirds majority required for conviction.
Advertisement
Manchin’s intervention gives Collins another argument for her bipartisan credentials at a time when national political polarization is playing an increasingly prominent role in the Maine campaign.
The former West Virginia senator spent much of his congressional career occupying a similarly independent position within the Democratic caucus, frequently frustrating party leaders by opposing or demanding changes to major Democratic legislation.
Manchin announced in 2023 that he would not seek another Senate term and subsequently left the Democratic Party in 2024, registering as an independent while continuing to caucus with Democrats for the remainder of his tenure.
His endorsement also arrives as Republican leaders increasingly seek to portray the Democratic Party as extremely left-wing, an argument that has become a recurring theme in GOP messaging during the midterm campaign.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
