Manchin in hot water as election forecaster marks seat as 'safe Republican'

West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is facing a particularly tough reelection fight should he opt to pursue another term in 2024.

The moderate Democrat has represented the state since 2010, when he triumphed in a special election to replace the late Democratic Sen. Robert Byrd. During his tenure, however, West Virginia has continued its shift toward the Republican Party and he remains one of the most vulnerable Senate Democrats in the 2024 cycle.

Elections Daily on Friday indicated that it no longer deemed the contest as a major battleground, saying "[a]s West Virginia continues to solidify itself as a red bastion at all levels, Manchin has become the last Democrat standing."

"And we’re confident that 2024 will mark a historic shift in West Virginia history. We’re moving the West Virginia Senate race to Safe Republican," the group declared [emphasis original].

Making matters more difficult for Manchin is the prospect of facing a popular Republican opponent who has already won statewide election, namely Gov. Jim Justice, who filed to run for the seat in late April. Justice initially ran for governor as a Democrat, but flipped to the GOP after taking office. He handily won reelection in 2020.

Manchin, however, has faced a strong Republican challenger before, edging out Attorney General Patrick Morrisey in 2018. Morrisey, for his part, has announced a gubernatorial bid to succeed Justice.

He has not, however, announced his intention to seek reelection.

Formerly quite popular in his home state, Manchin's approval has tanked in recent years amid his support for Biden administration priorities such as the Inflation Reduction Act.

In that instance, Manchin appeared to have egg on his face after agreeing to a deal with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wherein he would trade his decisive vote on the landmark bill in exchange for a separate measure to streamline the permitting process for energy projects which might benefit a pipeline in West Virginia.

Manchin honored his end of the bargain but Schumer was unable to secure enough Democratic support to follow through on his promise, leaving Manchin in the lurch. The West Virginia senator has since expressed support for repealing the Inflation Reduction Act.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.