Official records from the United States Senate

Retiring Joe Manchin Refuses to Endorse Kamala Harris Over Filibuster Stance for Abortion Rights

Sep 24, 2024, 05:29 PM

Senator Joe Manchin, who is retiring at year's end, announced that he will not endorse Kamala Harris for president due to her commitment to eliminating the Senate filibuster to pass legislation codifying abortion rights. Manchin, who has been a staunch defender of the filibuster, criticized Harris's plan, calling the filibuster the 'Holy Grail of democracy.' He expressed strong disapproval, stating 'Shame on her' and emphasizing that the filibuster is essential for maintaining democratic processes in the Senate. Manchin, who registered as an independent earlier this year and is 77 years old, reiterated his opposition to what he considers radical changes proposed by Harris.