Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) will not enter the presidential race. He confirmed this on Friday, putting an end to the speculation about a third-party bid.
"I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run," Manchin declared at West Virginia University.
He aims to support a leader who can unite the nation. "I will be involved in making sure that we secure a president that has the knowledge and has the passion and has the ability to bring this country together," he stated.
Previously, Manchin decided against another Senate term but hadn't dismissed a presidential run. His potential candidacy worried Democrats, fearing he might detract from President Biden's votes.
Manchin had engaged with No Labels, a group working on an independent candidacy initiative for November.
His spokesperson, Jon Kott, confirmed these details before Manchin's speech on Friday.