Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia bid farewell to the Senate on Tuesday as he delivered his final speech on the chamber floor, where he encouraged colleagues to move forward in a bipartisan manner and said he still believes it is the greatest deliberative body in the world is.
The independent senator, who played a crucial role as a tie-breaking vote for Democrats, will retire at the end of this Congress after making the decision not to run for re-election in his deep-red home state.
“It has been the honor of my life to represent my great state of West Virginia and this great country of ours,” Manchin said.
In a moving 25-minute speech, the 77-year-old senator’s voice occasionally trembled as he appeared to be trying to hold back tears during his emotional speech.
He said he still believes the U.S. Senate is the “greatest single-minded body the world has ever known and ever will know.”
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia delivers his final speech on the Senate floor, calling for bipartisanship and the protection of the filibuster while urging colleagues to work together to move forward to improve the lives of the American people
The senator, who previously served as governor of West Virginia, was first elected to represent his state as a Democrat in a special election in 2010.
Since then, he has been a centrist voice who has helped Democrats pass some of their biggest pieces of legislation.
But he was also a thorn in their side as they advanced by narrow margins over the past four years, making specific demands while sometimes casting final votes to get bills passed.
Earlier this year, Manchin announced he was leaving the Democratic party and becoming a registered independent, warning that the party was moving too far to the left.
In his heartfelt remarks, Manchin reflected on some of the most important legislation he worked on, his relationships with colleagues and the power of the U.S. government.
“As my time here comes to an end, I want you to know that my belief in the potential of this institution, and in each of you who it represents, remains as strong as ever,” Manchin said.
“I said this: I probably believe in you more than you believe in yourself,” he told his colleagues.
Manchin spoke about the need for bipartisanship and how he continues to support the filibuster, something he has championed despite calls for its elimination over the years.
“I have worked, and I believe with every bone in my body and every fiber in me, with every ounce of blood that I have, to preserve the bipartisan base of this Senate, and that is the 60-vote threshold for the filibuster,” Manchin said.
He noted that the Senate has had some missed opportunities to improve the lives of Americans, from passing background checks to solving immigration. He argued that this was not because of differences of opinion, but because politics got in the way.
He called the Senate’s work messy and hard. He argued during the speech that he was not elected to take sides and that the only side he ever truly believed in is the “American side.”
“Sometimes I felt like the entire Senate was in agreement and angry with me,” he later quipped ruefully.
His colleagues could be heard laughing when he said they had all been “tolerant” of him at times.
Senator Joe Manchin speaks to reporters. At times he was a decisive vote for Democrats trying to pass legislation, but he remained a strong supporter of the filibuster and bipartisanship in the House. Last year he announced that he would not seek re-election
The senator called on senators to work together to continue passing bills and addressing pressing issues.
He specifically mentioned fixing the immigration system and securing the border, addressing the rising national debt and supporting allies against authoritarianism.
‘To my colleagues I leave this challenge: ask yourself every day: what have I done for my country today?’ Manchin said.
‘We have to stop demonizing each other. We need to discuss ideas, that’s fine, but not about personalities,” he continued. “We are all chosen, and for that we should all be respected.”
The senator said coming to Washington was humiliating and noted thatThe divisions here ran pretty deep.”
Manchin said he believes in the institution of democracy and must cherish it.
“You hear people talk about the American Dream as if it’s some kind of myth, as if it’s gone,” he said. “But I want to tell you this: I’m here, just as many of you are here, because of that American dream.”
As Manchin spoke, his wife Gayle and other family members and staff watched from the gallery above the room as he said goodbye and thanked them.
Manchin indicated that while he will leave the Senate, he will remain in Washington “perhaps even long after.”
Those watching in the room could be heard laughing as he said his boat would still be in DC and invited people to stop by.
In a clear, sometimes rare moment of bipartisanship, colleagues from both sides of the aisle joined Manchin in the Senate chamber to wish him well.
After he spoke, they gathered around him to say goodbye and shake hands. Several colleagues sang his praises from the Senate floor.
His fellow West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito was the first to speak, highlighting their close relationship, his hard work for the state and saying she has big shoes to fill as the state’s new senior senator.
“Joe has always led with conviction and a very steady hand,” she said.
Manchin announced just over a year ago that he would not seek re-election in the 2024 elections when his term expires.
If he had, it’s not clear whether the senator could win in a state that has become increasingly red over the years and has elected Donald Trump by double digits.
Manchin will be replaced in the next Congress by GOP Gov. Jim Justice, who won the Senate race in West Virginia with more than 68 percent of the vote.
Republican Governor Jim Justice will serve as West Virginia’s next senator, replacing outgoing Senator Joe Manchin
Manchin’s departure also comes as Republicans are set to regain the majority in the Senate, with 53 seats to Democrats’ 47.
His call for bipartisanship came as Republicans were set to hold a trifecta with both chambers and the White House.
For Democrats, the Senate can sometimes be the only line of defense because lawmakers will need 60 votes in most cases. So they will have to work together in a bipartisan manner to pass legislation unless they abolish the filibuster.