Top Democrat Switches Sides RIGHT Before Critical Midterms

Former Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is crossing party lines once again, throwing his support behind Republican Sen. Susan Collins as she campaigns for another term representing Maine in the U.S. Senate.

Manchin, who represented West Virginia for more than a decade before leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent in 2024, announced his support for Collins during an appearance on CNBC’s *Squawk Box*.

The former senator praised Collins for her willingness to work across party lines and argued that Congress needs lawmakers who prioritize cooperation over partisan loyalty.

“You lose the Susan Collinses of the Senate, you’re losing the soul of the Senate,” Manchin declared.

He also pledged to take an active role in supporting her campaign, including traveling to Maine to help the Republican incumbent.

“I’m gonna do everything I can to help,” Manchin said.

The endorsement brings renewed attention to a political friendship that developed over years of bipartisan negotiations in Washington.

Collins, one of the Senate’s longest-serving Republicans, is seeking a sixth term in a contest that has attracted national attention as both parties compete for control of the chamber.

Manchin’s decision to publicly support her underscores their longstanding working relationship and their shared preference for negotiating legislation across party lines.

During their overlapping years in Congress, the two senators participated in several major bipartisan legislative efforts.

Both were members of the group that negotiated the 2021 infrastructure legislation, which became the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

The package directed federal funding toward transportation infrastructure, broadband expansion, bridges, roads and other public works projects.

Manchin and Collins also supported the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which introduced changes to federal gun laws while providing additional resources for mental health services and school security.

The two lawmakers participated in bipartisan efforts surrounding the Electoral Count Reform Act, legislation intended to clarify procedures for certifying presidential election results.

That measure reaffirmed the vice president’s limited role in counting electoral votes and increased the number of lawmakers required to initiate objections to a state’s electoral votes.

Their collaboration extended beyond individual legislative proposals.

Both senators developed reputations for occasionally opposing their own parties’ positions, particularly when they believed compromise was necessary to advance legislation.

Manchin frequently clashed with Democratic leaders over spending, energy policy and major elements of President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda.

Collins has similarly broken with Republican leadership on selected issues while supporting other significant Republican priorities.

Their political relationship has also translated into campaign support.

Manchin previously endorsed Collins during her 2020 reelection campaign against Democratic nominee Sara Gideon.

Despite a closely watched race and polling that suggested a competitive contest, Collins ultimately won by nearly nine percentage points.

Manchin’s latest endorsement follows that earlier decision to support a Republican colleague over his former party’s nominee.

This time, Collins faces former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson, who secured the Democratic nomination and is seeking to unseat the longtime incumbent.

Jackson has focused his campaign on economic affordability, health care, workers’ rights and concerns about income inequality.

He has argued that Maine needs a senator who will more consistently challenge Republican policies in Washington.

Jackson has also criticized Collins over abortion policy and her relationship with President Donald Trump, contending that her occasional disagreements with the administration do not outweigh her support for other Republican priorities.

Collins has defended her record by emphasizing her independence, seniority and willingness to evaluate legislation and presidential proposals individually.

During an October debate, she pointed to disagreements with Trump over tariffs, immigration enforcement and military policy.

She argued that her approach reflects a commitment to representing Maine rather than automatically supporting every position taken by her party.

Collins was also among seven Republican senators who voted to convict Trump during his second impeachment trial following the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The Senate ultimately fell short of the two-thirds majority required for conviction.

That vote remains one of the most prominent examples of Collins taking a position opposed by much of the Republican Party.

Manchin’s endorsement gives Collins another example of support from outside Republican ranks as she emphasizes her bipartisan credentials.

The former West Virginia senator spent much of his career occupying a politically independent position within the Democratic caucus.

Although elected as a Democrat, he frequently resisted proposals supported by party leadership and demanded changes to major legislation before agreeing to provide his vote.

His opposition to certain Democratic spending and energy proposals made him a central figure in negotiations during Biden’s presidency.

Manchin announced in 2023 that he would not seek another Senate term.

In 2024, he formally left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent, although he continued caucusing with Senate Democrats for the remainder of his tenure.

His support for Collins is therefore consistent with his longstanding willingness to back candidates from either party based on personal relationships and legislative priorities.

The Maine contest also illustrates competing views of bipartisanship and political accountability.

Collins points to her willingness to negotiate with Democrats and occasionally oppose Republican leadership as evidence of her independence.

Jackson argues that voters should evaluate her broader voting record and the practical consequences of Republican policies she has supported.

Manchin, meanwhile, has made clear that he considers Collins’ approach to legislating particularly valuable.

His comments suggest that he views the loss of lawmakers willing to negotiate across party lines as a concern for the Senate as an institution.

The endorsement comes as national Republican leaders continue emphasizing ideological differences with Democrats during the midterm campaign.

Manchin’s intervention presents a different political message, focused less on party affiliation than on his assessment of Collins’ legislative record.

Whether his endorsement affects voters in Maine remains to be seen.

For now, Collins has secured public support from a former Democratic senator who previously campaigned for her and worked alongside her on major legislation.

And Manchin has made his intentions unmistakable: despite his long history with the Democratic Party, he plans to help a Republican former colleague win another term in the United States Senate.