Moderate Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin fended off his Republican challenger in West Virginia Tuesday night, keeping his Senate seat in Democrats’ hands despite the conservative tilt of the state.
Manchin led Republican Patrick Morrisey 51 percent to 44 percent shortly after 9 p.m. ET when CNN and NBC called the race.
The Democratic senator looked to have a tough race heading into the cycle since Trump won the state by 41 points in 2016. But while Republicans avoided a nomination disaster when scandal-plagued coal baron Don Blankenship lost the primary, nominating Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) over Rep. Evan Jenkins (R-WV) wasn’t helpful to GOP hopes. Morrisey hailed from New Jersey and had other baggage.
Manchin was expected to win and led for the entirety of the race, though at some points it was a close contest. Manchin did more than arguably any other Senate Democrat to avoid antagonizing Trump, including being the only Democratic senator who voted for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Sad that we have to be glad for the likes of Joe, but since we do: Yay.
The guy knows how to win as a Democrat in WV.
Fair enough. At the same time, I don’t know that he’d be a ton different anywhere else.
Less that a 100 votes for Beto in TX. Do not tell me your vote does not count
Polls closed for a half hour in AZ and still no votes reported.
Philly burbs going blue big-time. In my own newly created district we have a new D rep, Chrissy Houlahan. Every reason to think this is going to be a good night, not as good as one’s wildest hopes but good in the final analysis. Long haul, folks.