Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia is keeping his political options open for 2016, even though his Senate term would not end for another two years, according to the Charleston Gazette.
Mr. Manchin, a Democrat who won his first full Senate term in 2012, is among a long line of former governors who find working in Washington has not been as fun or productive as they’d thought. That’s fueled speculation that he may run for governor once more, because the seat will be up for grabs in 2016.
“Senator Manchin loved being governor of West Virginia, and has made no secret of his frustration with the partisan gridlock and dysfunction of Washington,” Manchin spokesman Jonathan Kott told the Gazette. “He is fully committed to his job as senator and fights every day to improve the lives of the people he is honored to represent.
“Senator Manchin is leaving all his options open for 2016, and will continue to look for the best way to bring common sense to Washington,” Mr. Kott also told the newspaper.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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