Since announcing his retirement from Congress, U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) has sparked widespread speculation that he would announce an independent White House campaign.

He has touted his effort to reach centrist voters and the “No Labels” movement had signaled its interest in considering him as a possible candidate to lead its “unity” presidential ticket this year.

Calling him “a tireless voice for America’s commonsense majority and a longtime ally of the No Labels movement,” the group indicated in November that it was “gathering input from our members across the country to understand the kind of leaders they would like to see in the White House.”

Manchin continued to fuel rumors as recently as last week, when he offered up Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), who is also retiring after his current term ends, as a possible running mate.

Shortly thereafter, however, he confirmed that he had ruled out a “spoiler” presidential bid.

Manchin on a presidential run: "The system right now is not set up [for it]. The long game, maybe we can make a third party viable … right now it's very challenging."

"I am not going to be a … spoiler, whatever you want to call it. I just don't think it's the right time."

— Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) February 16, 2024

In a speech on Friday, he announced: “I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run. 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.”
In response, No Labels issued a statement regarding its ongoing search for a possible candidate to mount a challenge to the two major parties in the upcoming general election. 

“In the next couple of weeks or more, we will probably make an announcement whether or not we will give the ballot access to a unity ticket,” explained Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr., the group’s national co-chair. “A unity ticket means a Republican and a Democrat. And we are talking to Republicans, Democrats and independents.”

Although she was not mentioned directly, it is worth noting that former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), who has been embraced by some Democrats due to her vocal opposition to former President Donald Trump, left the door open for a third-party bid during a recent CNN interview.

The organization noted that its plans for the general election would probably be announced sometime near the March 5 Super Tuesday primaries.