Sen. Joe Manchin (I-WV) provoked his critics on Saturday with a social media post showcasing his recent fishing adventure.
Manchin, initially elected as a Democrat, revealed on Friday that he has switched his party registration to independent. His Senate term concludes in 2025, and he has declared he will not seek re-election. He shared photos of himself displaying fish at various river sites in West Virginia.
“Enjoying my first weekend of independence in Wild & Wonderful West Virginia,” Manchin wrote alongside the photos.
Enjoying my first weekend of independence in Wild & Wonderful West Virginia 🎣 pic.twitter.com/OfeHcbaOLw
— Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen_JoeManchin) June 1, 2024
Currently, three candidates are vying for Manchin’s Senate seat. The Republican contender is Gov. Jim Justice (R-WV), with Glenn Elliott running as the Democratic candidate, and Michael Sigmon as the independent candidate. Justice initially ran for governor as a Democrat but later shifted his party affiliation to Republican, announcing the switch at a Donald Trump rally.
Manchin has been serving in the Senate since 2010.
