Joe Manchin Launches Initiative to Elect Independent Candidates

Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who became an independent in 2024, and his daughter Heather Manchin announced a new effort aimed at electing independent candidates to public office. The pair discussed the project on CBS’s Face the Nation, highlighting the growing share of American adults who identify as independents and the challenges they face under the two‑party system, such as stringent ballot‑access requirements and low primary turnout.

During the interview host Margaret Brennan asked whether Manchin would support self‑described socialist candidates. Manchin responded forcefully, saying, “Are you crazy? No way,” and argued that socialist platforms call for dismantling existing institutions, including police, defense, and energy production. He stressed the need for a crime‑free area, strong national defense, secure borders, and continued energy output, positioning his independent‑candidate initiative as a middle‑ground alternative to both major parties.