Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced Thursday that he will not run for reelection in 2024.

A Democratic Senator from a deep red state, Manchin’s vote this past year has been highly valued amid the party’s razor-thin majority in the upper chamber, often being the tie-breaking vote—though not always without concessions.

However, he would have faced an uphill battle in next year’s election, particularly as West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice (R) has launched his own bid for the Senate seat.

“To the West Virginians who have put their trust in me and fought side by side to make our state better—it has been an honor of my life to serve you. Thank you,” Manchin said in a statement on social media.

His announcement further spurred suspicions that he might run for President as a third-party candidate, as he said in his video statement, “What I will be doing is traveling the country and speaking out to see if there is an interest in creating a movement to mobilize the middle and bring Americans together.”

PHOTO: Joe Manchin announcing he won’t seek reelection

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