Former Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is throwing his support behind Republican Sen. Susan Collins as she fights to secure another term in Washington, delivering a bipartisan endorsement that could draw fresh attention to one of the most closely watched Senate races of the 2026 midterm elections.
Manchin, who represented West Virginia in the Senate before leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent in 2024, has made it clear that he believes Collins brings something increasingly uncommon to Capitol Hill: a willingness to work with lawmakers regardless of their political affiliation.
During an appearance on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Manchin offered an emphatic defense of the Maine Republican, warning that losing lawmakers with her approach to governing would be a serious blow to the institution.
“You lose the Susan Collinses of the Senate, you’re losing the soul of the Senate,” Manchin declared.
