West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin told a group Friday that he will not enter the 2024 presidential race as a third-party candidate. He had been exploring running under the No Labels group, which has registered in 16 states to participate in the presidential election.
No Labels is NOW on the ballot in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Dakota and Utah, and has filed for access in 14 others.
That means No Labels is in search for another candidate. And it means that Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski won’t be Manchin’s running mate, as many have speculated. He is rumored to have also considered Sen. Mitt Romney, a Republican from Utah, as a running mate.
“I will not be seeking a third party run, I will not be involved in a presidential run,” Manchin said Friday in West Virginia. “I will be involved in making sure that we secure a president who has the knowledge and has the passion and has the ability to bring this country together. I just don’t think it’s the right time.”
“We’re talking with several exceptional leaders. We have our own internal process,” said No Labels Co-chair Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis on MSNBC.
Manchin, a Democrat, is also not running for reelection to his Senate seat for West Virginia, which polls show is likely to be won by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican.
As for Alaska’s senator, political analysts have said that Murkowski, who isn’t up for reelection until 2026, may instead decide to run for governor of Alaska that year.
