2024 Senate race begins with challenge to Manchin

Not a week has passed since polls closed, and the jockeying has already begun for 2024 Senate races.

First up: Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), who announced Tuesday greeting that helium volition tally for Senate — a contention that volition pit a Republican against Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin. Mooney besides filed a connection of candidacy and a “Mooney for Senate” fundraising committee connected Tuesday.

“I’m announcing it close present that I’m moving for the U.S. Senate,” Mooney said connected MetroNews’ Talkline amusement successful West Virginia. “I’m each in.”

Manchin, a mean Democrat reelected successful 2018 successful a authorities erstwhile President Donald Trump won by 42 points 2 years earlier, has go a thorn successful the broadside of Senate Democrats. Wielding much powerfulness than astir senators successful the evenly divided Senate, Manchin has spent overmuch of the past 2 years pushing backmost connected elements of President Joe Biden’s agenda.

After Democrats narrowly held Senate power this election, Manchin is poised to proceed to play an outsized relation successful negotiating authorities for the adjacent 2 years.

Mooney, who handily won reelection to West Virginia’s 2nd legislature territory past week, said connected the speech amusement helium felt it was important to marque his plans known aboriginal arsenic different radical see moving for the seat. So far, Mooney said helium has “heard astatine slightest 5 different names connected the Republican side” who are interested.

Gov. Jim Justice and authorities Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, who mislaid to Manchin successful 2018, are among the GOP names that person been floated to instrumentality connected Manchin.

Despite Manchin regularly moving with Republicans — and superior threats already being made against mean Arizona Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema — nary superior contender has announced a situation to Manchin successful the Democratic superior adjacent cycle.

But Manchin himself inactive hasn’t said whether helium volition tally again, a determination helium planned to make sometime aft this November’s elections.

Manchin winning arsenic a Democrat had defied partisanship successful deep-red West Virginia, giving the enactment possibly its lone changeable astatine statewide triumph there. But his popularity took a deed this autumn aft Manchin worked with Senate Democrats to walk cardinal elements of Biden’s climate and taxation plan, according to polling by Morning Consult.

Among each voters successful the state, Manchin’s support stood astatine conscionable 42 percent successful October, compared to a 51 percent disapproval rating. Manchin’s disapproval standing was up by double-digits since this summer, astatine 38 percent. The steadfast recovered Manchin’s support adjacent little among independents, astatine conscionable 31 percent.

Democrats pulled disconnected an unexpected triumph successful the Senate this midterm cycle, but are staring down a perchance tougher combat successful 2024: defending 23 seats, galore successful reddish and purple states, compared to conscionable 10 for Republicans.