Joe Manchin calls on Biden to exit the presidential race and 'pass the torch to a new generation'

The Democrat-turned-independent has been a frequent thorn in the side of the White House even while aiding Biden on key pieces of legislation.

• Sen. Joe Manchin on Sunday called on President Joe Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee.
• "I think that we have a lot of talent on the bench, a lot of good people," the senator told CNN.
• Manchin called for an "open process" to select a nominee and said he preferred a governor.

Sen. Joe Manchin on Sunday called on President Joe Biden to step aside as the Democratic presidential nominee and make way for a "new generation" of leadership.

In his remarks, Manchin suggested that he'd look beyond Vice President Kamala Harris, who many see as a favorite to capture the nomination should such a scenario unfold.

During an interview on CNN's "State of the Union," the veteran West Virginia lawmaker lauded Biden's record but said that the party needed to move forward with a new candidate in the general election. He said that he'd be "partial" to a governor.

"I came to the decision with a heavy heart that it's time to pass the torch to a new generation," he said.

When Manchin was asked how he'd like to see a nomination plan play out, the retiring lawmaker said he'd prefer an "open process" among Democrats.

"I think that we have a lot of talent on the bench, a lot of good people," he said. "I'm partial to governors because a governor can't afford to be partial. They can't afford to be partisan, strictly, because that pothole or that bridge doesn't have a 'D' or 'R' on it."

Manchin identified Govs. Andy Beshear of Kentucky and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania as unifying leaders who "haven't demonized the other side."

The lawmaker then said he wanted Biden to use his compassion to be a stabilizing force for the country for the remainder of his term.

Manchin, who in May announced that he left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent, declined to run for reelection this fall in his increasingly Republican-oriented state.

With Sunday's announcement, Manchin becomes the fifth Democratic or Democratic-aligned senator to call on Biden to exit the 2024 race. (Manchin still caucuses with Democrats in the Senate.)

Over the course of Biden's presidency, Manchin has played a major role in shaping the Democratic domestic agenda — while also being a frequent thorn in the side of the White House.

The senator's opposition to Biden's expansive Build Back Better agenda led to its legislative demise. But he played a major role in crafting the Democratic-led Inflation Reduction Act, which Biden signed into law in 2022.