Outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin endorses Wheeling mayor in West Virginia Senate race

In a surprising turn of events, outgoing U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin has endorsed the mayor of Wheeling, Glenn Elliott, in the Democratic primary race for his seat representing deep-red West Virginia. Manchin, the only Democrat holding statewide office in the state, praised Elliott for his determination, vigor, and vitality, highlighting his record of job creation, crime reduction, and downtown revitalization in the city of Wheeling.

Manchin’s decision not to seek reelection in 2024 has left the Democratic Party scrambling to find a viable candidate to hold onto the coal country seat. With Elliott facing tough competition from Marine Corps veteran Zach Shrewsbury and ex-coal executive Don Blankenship in the primary, the race for the Senate seat promises to be an uphill battle.

Elliott, a lawyer and former legislative assistant to the late U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd, has positioned himself as a Democrat who is not afraid to speak out against his party when he believes it is not in the best interest of West Virginia. He has expressed support for President Joe Biden’s economic development initiatives, including the bipartisan infrastructure bill that brought $33 million to Wheeling for downtown revitalization.

In a state that has become increasingly loyal to former President Donald Trump, Elliott acknowledges the frustration felt by many West Virginians who believe Washington is not listening to their concerns. He believes that his candidacy represents a chance for the state to be heard and not disregarded as “flyover country.”

With the general election looming, Elliott’s endorsement by Manchin could be a game-changer in the race for the Senate seat. As the Democratic nominee, he would face off against either Republican Gov. Jim Justice or U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney in what is sure to be a closely watched and highly contested election.