Joe Manchin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Joe Manchin
Official portrait, 2017
United States Senator from West Virginia
In office November 15, 2010 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Carte Goodwin
Succeeded by	Jim Justice
Committee positions Chair of the Senate Energy Committee In office February 3, 2021 – January 3, 2025 Preceded by Lisa Murkowski Succeeded by Mike Lee Ranking Member of the Senate Energy Committee In office January 3, 2019 – February 3, 2021 Preceded by Maria Cantwell Succeeded by John Barrasso
Chair of the National Governors Association
In office July 11, 2010 – November 15, 2010
Preceded by	Jim Douglas
Succeeded by	Christine Gregoire
34th Governor of West Virginia
In office January 17, 2005 – November 15, 2010
Lieutenant	Earl Ray Tomblin
Preceded by	Bob Wise
Succeeded by	Earl Ray Tomblin
27th Secretary of State of West Virginia
In office January 15, 2001 – January 17, 2005
Governor	Bob Wise
Preceded by	Ken Hechler
Succeeded by	Betty Ireland
Member of the West Virginia Senate
In office December 1, 1986 – December 1, 1996
Preceded by	Anthony Yanero
Succeeded by	Roman Prezioso
Constituency	14th district (1986–1992) 13th district (1992–1996)
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the 31st district
In office December 1, 1982 – December 1, 1986
Preceded by	Clyde See
Succeeded by	Duane Southern
Personal details
Born	Joseph Anthony Manchin III (1947-08-24) August 24, 1947 (age 77) Farmington, West Virginia, U.S.
Political party	Democratic (until 2024) Independent (since 2024)
Spouse	Gayle Conelly ​ (m. 1967)​
Children	3, including Heather
Relatives	James Manchin (uncle)
Education	West Virginia University (BBA)
Signature

Joseph Anthony Manchin III (born August 24, 1947) is an American businessman and politician. He served as a United States Senator for West Virginia from 2010 to 2025. Before becoming a senator, he was the 27th Secretary of State of West Virginia from 2001 to 2005. He then served as the 34th Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010.

Manchin was a member of the Democratic Party for most of his career. In 2024, he changed his registration to become an independent. He was known for being a "centrist" or "moderate" voice in the Senate. This meant he often worked with both Democrats and Republicans.

After the 2020 elections, the Senate was evenly split. This made Manchin a very important "swing vote." His vote was often needed for new laws to pass. He announced in November 2023 that he would not run for reelection in 2024. He also decided not to run for president.

Early Life and Education

Joseph Anthony Manchin III was born on August 24, 1947. He grew up in Farmington, West Virginia, a small town known for coal mining. He was one of five children. His father's family came from Italy, and his mother's family came from Czechoslovakia.

Manchin's family had a history of public service. His grandfather and father both served as mayor of Farmington. His uncle, A. James Manchin, was also a politician in West Virginia. He served in the state legislature and as Secretary of State and Treasurer.

Manchin graduated from Farmington High School in 1965. He went to West Virginia University on a football scholarship. However, an injury during practice ended his football career. He graduated in 1970 with a degree in business. After college, he worked in his family's business.

Business Interests

Enersystems Coal Company

In 1988, Manchin started a company called Enersystems. It was a coal brokerage company based in Fairmont, West Virginia. A coal brokerage helps buy and sell coal. Manchin was the president of Enersystems until 2000. When he entered politics, his son, Joe Manchin IV, took over the daily operations.

Later, Manchin put his ownership in Enersystems into a "blind trust." This means he could not control or know about the company's daily business decisions. This helps prevent conflicts of interest for politicians. In 2020, his shares in Enersystems were worth a lot of money. He also received a large amount of money from the company in dividends.

Other Investments

Since becoming a U.S. Senator in 2010, Manchin has also reported other investments. One of these is AA Properties, which he partly controls. This company has invested in businesses like a hotel in Elkview, West Virginia.

Early Political Career

Manchin began his political career in 1982. He was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates. This is part of the state's law-making body. In 1986, he was elected to the West Virginia Senate, where he served for ten years.

In 1996, he ran for governor but did not win the primary election. A primary election is where parties choose their candidate. In 2000, Manchin was elected Secretary of State of West Virginia. This office manages elections and keeps state records.

Governor of West Virginia

Manchin greeting President George W. Bush in 2006

In 2003, Manchin decided to run for governor again. He won the election in 2004 by a large amount. This was the first time in many years that one governor from a party was followed by another from the same party.

Manchin speaks during the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

In 2006, a serious mining accident happened at the Sago Mine. Manchin, as governor, was involved in the response. He later ordered all coal production in West Virginia to stop temporarily. This was to allow for safety checks after more mining accidents occurred.

Manchin was easily reelected as governor in 2008. He won with nearly 70% of the votes.

U.S. Senate

Elections

2010 Special Election

Memorial service for Robert Byrd at the State Capitol in Charleston, West Virginia, July 2, 2010

In 2010, Senator Robert Byrd passed away. Governor Manchin appointed his legal advisor, Carte Goodwin, to fill the Senate seat temporarily. Manchin then announced he would run for the seat himself in a special election. He won this election, becoming a U.S. Senator.

2012 Reelection

Manchin ran for a full six-year term in 2012. He won reelection with over 60% of the vote. During this time, he did not fully support President Barack Obama for reelection. He said he had different ideas on economic and energy policies.

2018 Reelection

In 2018, Manchin ran for reelection again. He faced a challenge from an activist named Paula Jean Swearengin in the Democratic primary. Manchin won the primary. He then won the general election against Republican Patrick Morrisey.

2024 Decision

Manchin announced in November 2023 that he would not run for reelection in 2024. He said he wanted to travel the country and work on bringing Americans together. In May 2024, he officially left the Democratic Party. He registered as an independent. He also confirmed he would not run for president.

Tenure

Obama Years (2010–2017)

Manchin was sworn into the Senate in November 2010. He often had a complicated relationship with President Obama. He sometimes disagreed with Obama's policies, especially on energy.

Trump Years (2017–2021)

Manchin with Rick Perry, Shelley Moore Capito, and David McKinley in 2017

Manchin with Brett Kavanaugh in 2018

During President Donald Trump's time in office, Manchin often voted with Trump's positions. He supported many of Trump's cabinet choices. He also voted to confirm Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. However, he voted against confirming Amy Coney Barrett. Manchin also voted to convict Trump in both of his impeachment trials.

Biden Years (2021–2025)

During President Joe Biden's time, Manchin became a very important vote in the Senate. The Senate was split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans. This meant Manchin's vote was often needed for Democrats to pass laws.

In late 2021, Manchin faced protests from people who disagreed with his political choices. He also said he and his family received threats. In March 2022, he voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court.

Manchin announced in November 2023 that he would not seek reelection in 2024. He said he wanted to work on bringing people together across the country. In 2024, he became an independent. He later said he would not run for any office. He also said his biggest regret during Biden's presidency was voting for the American Rescue Plan. He believed it contributed to inflation.

Jim Justice won the West Virginia Senate seat that Manchin left.

Committee Assignments

Manchin served on several important Senate committees. These committees study specific topics and help create laws.

• Committee on Appropriations: This committee decides how the government spends money.
• Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Manchin was the chair of this committee. It deals with energy, natural resources, and public lands.
• Committee on Armed Services: This committee oversees the military and defense.
• Committee on Veterans' Affairs: This committee works on issues affecting military veterans.

Funding and Political Views

Manchin received significant funding from the oil and gas industry. This led to some criticism from environmental groups. He stated that he used a blind trust for his business interests.

Presidential Politics

In 2023, there were rumors that Manchin might run for president as a third-party candidate. He met with groups like No Labels, which aims to support moderate candidates. However, in February 2024, Manchin announced he would not run for president.

After President Biden withdrew from the 2024 race, Manchin considered running. But he decided not to. He later criticized some of the Democratic Party's positions. He said their "brand was toxic." He plans to remain an independent and not run for office in the future.

Political Positions

Manchin is known as a moderate to conservative Democrat. He often described himself as "fiscally responsible and socially compassionate." This means he cared about careful spending and helping people. He was known for working with both parties.

Energy and Environment

President Barack Obama and then-Vice President Joe Biden speak to governors about clean energy, February 2010

Manchin supported an "all-of-the-above" approach to energy. This means using many different energy sources, including coal. He often criticized environmental rules that he felt hurt the coal industry. He supported building the Keystone XL Pipeline. This pipeline would carry oil across the United States.

He did not deny that climate change is happening. However, he was careful about policies that would limit fossil fuels too quickly. He supported President Trump's decision to leave the Paris climate accord. He said it did not balance the environment and the economy well enough.

In 2021, Manchin opposed a "Clean Electricity Performance Program." This program aimed to encourage cleaner energy. In December 2024, Manchin said he supported the Inflation Reduction Act because of the global energy crisis. This act included many climate change and energy provisions.

Federal Budget

Manchin supported balanced budget amendments. These amendments aim to keep government spending equal to its income. He also voted against raising the national debt limit. He opposed cuts to programs like Social Security and Medicare.

Foreign Policy

Manchin was often cautious about American military actions overseas. He called for reducing U.S. troops in Afghanistan. He also opposed most military actions in Syria. He believed that giving weapons to other groups often led to them being used against the U.S.

He supported President Trump's missile strike in Syria in 2017. He said it sent a message that chemical attacks would not be tolerated. He also supported efforts to address unfair trade practices by China.

In March 2022, during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Manchin helped create a bill. This bill aimed to ban most fossil fuel imports from Russia.

Guns

Manchin was endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA). He worked with a Republican senator to propose a bill. This bill would have strengthened background checks for gun sales. The bill did not pass.

Health Care

Manchin supported making "repairs" to the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He did not want to repeal it without a new plan in place. He also supported a bill to help coal miners with black lung disease.

Immigration

Manchin opposed the DREAM Act. This act would have created a path to citizenship for some undocumented immigrants. He supported building a wall along the U.S. southern border. He also voted to withhold funding from "sanctuary cities." These cities limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Infrastructure

Manchin supported a large infrastructure bill. This bill would improve roads, bridges, and other public systems. He was open to raising taxes on corporations to pay for it.

In December 2021, Manchin said he would not vote for the "Build Back Better Act." This was a major bill supported by President Biden. Manchin cited concerns about inflation and the national debt. His decision led to a lot of discussion and negotiation. Eventually, a different bill, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, was passed. Manchin supported this new act.

LGBT Rights

Manchin's views on LGBT rights have changed over time. In 2010, he voted against repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." This policy prevented openly gay people from serving in the military. In 2017, he opposed President Trump's proposed ban on transgender people in the military.

As of 2015, he was the only Democrat in the Senate who opposed same-sex marriage. However, in November 2022, he voted to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. This law protects same-sex marriages under federal law. In March 2021, he was the only Democrat to vote for an amendment that would have cut funding for schools allowing transgender youth on sports teams.

Senior Citizens

Manchin introduced the Silver Alert Act. This act would create a nationwide system to help find missing senior citizens. He also supported a "Yellow Dot Act." This program would alert emergency services to medical information for car accident victims.

Economics

In 2018, Manchin voted with Republicans to ease some banking rules. He opposed President Trump's tax cuts in 2017. He said they did not help ordinary people enough. He also opposed the government shutdown in January 2018.

In 2021, Manchin opposed raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. He was open to a smaller increase, perhaps to $11. He also suggested that the minimum wage should be linked to inflation.

Veterans

Manchin worked on bills to help veterans. He introduced the HIRE Veterans Act. This act helps recognize employers who hire veterans. He also supported bills to improve accountability for health care employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs. He helped secure grants to aid homeless veterans in West Virginia.

Legacy

Joe Manchin's time in politics has been described as complex. From 2021 until he became an Independent in 2024, he was the only Democrat holding a major political office in West Virginia. West Virginia has voted Republican in presidential elections for many years. However, Manchin managed to hold his Senate seat as a Democrat for a long time.

He is remembered as someone who was sometimes difficult to work with. But he also helped get many things done. His name became known for any politician who could hold up a party's plans. After the 2024 presidential election, Manchin criticized the Democratic Party's positions. He said their image was "toxic." He plans to remain an independent.

In 2025, Manchin announced he would publish a book. It is called Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense.

Personal Life

Manchin is a member of the National Rifle Association. He is also a licensed pilot. He married Gayle Heather Conelly in 1967. They have three children: Heather Manchin Bresch, Joseph IV, and Brooke. Manchin is Catholic.

In 2012, Manchin spoke out against an MTV reality show called Buckwild. The show was set in West Virginia. He asked the network to cancel it, saying it showed his home state in a negative way. The show ended after one season.

In 2014, one of Manchin's brothers sued him and another brother over a loan. The lawsuit was later withdrawn. As of 2022, Manchin lived on a yacht when he was in Washington, D.C. His net worth was estimated to be $12 million.

See also

In Spanish: Joe Manchin para niños