CHARLESTON U.S. Senator Joe Manchin delivered his farewell address Tuesday, reflecting on his thirteen years on the Senate floor.
After choosing not to run for re-election, the 77-year-old Senator gave a 26-minute final speech, reflecting on his career, legislative accomplishments, and the challenges of bipartisan governance.
“It’s been the honor of my life to represent my great state of West Virginia and this great country of ours,” Manchin said. “Fourteen years ago, I walked into this building not knowing what to expect. I had just left the best public service job of my life as the Governor of my great state of West Virginia. Everything I knew about the Senate I had heard and listened and learned from Robert C. Byrd.”
Manchin, who registered as an independent earlier this year after leaving the Democratic Party, highlighted moments of collaboration and contention during his tenure, often serving as a pivotal vote in an evenly divided Senate. He humorously noted that his colleagues’ shared frustrations with him may have been one of their few uniting factors in recent years.
First elected to the Senate in 2010, Manchin frequently advocated for compromise while maintaining a focus on issues critical to West Virginia, such as energy policy and infrastructure development. He described his efforts to advance projects like the Mountain Valley Pipeline and to secure national park status for the New River Gorge.
Manchin also spoke about missed opportunities in Congress, citing failures to address issues such as immigration reform, gun control measures, and the national debt, which now exceeds $36 trillion. He expressed concern that political polarization had obstructed progress on widely supported legislation.
Republican Governor Jim Justice, who won West Virginia’s Senate seat in this year’s elections, will take office in January, marking a shift in the state’s representation as its electorate continues to favor Republican candidates.
Reflecting on his time in Washington, Manchin acknowledged the frustrations he encountered but expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve. He concluded with a message of unity and hope for his colleagues, calling for renewed efforts to bridge divides and address the nation’s challenges.
“I believe and I’m going to be rooting, screaming and hollering for my team,” he said. “This is my team; all the D’s and the R’s and the I’s in here is my team, and I love each and every one of you. Thank you for giving me the honor of a lifetime to serve in – I think – the greatest deliberate body the world has ever known and ever will have: the United States Senate.”
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