West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who is soon to retire, has publicly disagreed with Vice President Kamala Harris on the contentious issue of Senate filibuster, and has declined to endorse her.
On September 24, 2024, Manchin, who is now an independent, criticized Harris’ call to scrap the 60-vote filibuster rule to pass federal legislation that would safeguard abortion rights. Harris, a strong advocate of ending the filibuster, asserts that the rule hinders meaningful legislative advancement.
Manchin was direct in his disapproval of Harris’ position, telling the press, “Shame on her. She knows the filibuster is the Holy Grail of democracy. It’s the only thing that keeps us talking and working together. If she gets rid of that, then this would be the House on steroids.”
The filibuster has been a major bone of contention within the Democratic Party, especially after the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, thereby leaving abortion rights to the discretion of individual states. Harris contends that doing away with the filibuster would enable Democrats to enact legislation that secures abortion rights at the federal level. In an interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, she stated, “I think we should eliminate the filibuster for Roe, to actually put back in law the protections for reproductive freedom.”
While Harris maintains her position, both Manchin and independent Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema have staunchly advocated for the preservation of the filibuster. Sinema has decried Harris’ proposal as a bad idea, warning that scrapping the filibuster could have unintended consequences. She underscored that abolishing the filibuster to codify Roe v. Wade could also enable a future Congress to enact a nationwide abortion ban, a concern she voiced on X.
The Democratic Party’s internal conflict over the filibuster has not escaped attention. Former President Donald Trump, during his presidency, called for an end to the filibuster, though leading Republican lawmakers, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, have stood by it. Trump recently commented on the ongoing debate, lauding Manchin for opposing Harris’ stance and referring to her support for eliminating the filibuster as a “DEATH WISH for the Filibuster and the Rule of Law.”
President Joe Biden has backed the idea of removing the filibuster to advance protections for abortion and voting rights, especially in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization that overturned Roe v. Wade. However, the efforts of Biden and Harris have been met with difficulties due to the lack of unanimous agreement within the Democratic Party. Senators Manchin and Sinema have consistently opposed changes to the filibuster, particularly when Democrats sought to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act in early 2022.
The ongoing filibuster debate underscores the broader challenges the Democratic Party encounters in pushing its legislative agenda. As the 2024 elections loom, the party is grappling with internal divisions and the daunting task of maintaining its narrow majority in the Senate. If Democrats lose the Senate, efforts to legislate abortion rights and other key issues could face even greater roadblocks.
Manchin’s decision not to endorse Harris highlights the deep divisions within the party over this issue. The West Virginia senator has carved out a role for himself as a moderate voice, often opposing the more progressive policies championed by Harris and other Democratic leaders. As Manchin’s retirement draws near, his defense of the filibuster is likely to be a significant aspect of his political legacy.
