Sen. Joe Manchin III on Friday said he won’t run for president as a third-party candidate, eliminating his potential to play spoiler in President Biden’s bid for a second term.
Mr. Manchin, West Virginia Democrat, made the announcement during a speaking engagement at West Virginia University.
His decision follows the same decision by former Gov. Larry Hogan, a Maryland Republican who was also eyed as a third-party presidential candidate but will run for the U.S. Senate instead.
The two men were considered possible running mates on a No Labels unity ticket. The No Labels party is on the ballot in 14 states.
The No Labels organization is considering more than a dozen candidates to run on a bipartisan ticket and could narrow its selection after Super Tuesday, March 5.
Mr. Manchin made it clear he won’t be a No Labels candidate.
“I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run,” he said.
Mr. Manchin, a moderate who has bucked his own leadership and used his leverage in the Senate’s narrow Democratic majority to shape legislation, announced in November he won’t seek another term in the upper chamber.
His potential run as a third-party presidential candidate was considered a threat to Mr. Biden’s reelection prospects.
The president is narrowly trailing likely GOP nominee and former President Donald Trump, and a strong No Labels candidate could draw support from Mr. Biden.
Already in the third-party lane, independent Robert F. Kennedy Jr., is polling at 7%.
• Susan Ferrechio can be reached at sferrechio@washingtontimes.com.
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