Joe Manchin Goes Independent: Shakes Up U.S. Senate Dynamics

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat known for opposing his party on key issues, has registered as an independent. Citing broken national politics and partisan extremism, Manchin's decision adds uncertainty to the upcoming Senate elections, where Republicans are favored to win his seat. Manchin's future caucus alignment remains unclear.

U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, a longtime Democrat who often bucked his party leadership, said on Friday he had registered as an independent with no party affiliation.

"Our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground," Manchin said in a statement, adding that both parties had embraced "partisan extremism" and were putting democracy in jeopardy. He announced last year that he would not seek re-election in November, hurting Democrats' chance of defending their thin Senate majority. Republicans are highly favored to win the seat, with Jim Justice, the state's popular governor, vying for it in the Nov. 5 election.

Democrats and three independents who usually caucus with them had controlled the chamber with a 51-49 majority. It was not immediately clear whether he would caucus with either party in the narrowly held Senate.