CHARLESTON, WV (WOWK) — U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV) reflected on his four-decade-long career in West Virginia politics in his final address on the U.S. Senate floor on Tuesday.
“It’s been the honor of my life to represent my great state of West Virginia and this great country of ours,” Sen. Manchin said.
Manchin also brought up the legacy of the late Democratic Sen. Robert C. Byrd, who represented West Virginia in the U.S. Senate for more than 51 years.
“Everything I knew about the Senate I had heard and learned from Robert C. Byrd,” Manchin said. “Though I was stepping into his seat, I knew I could never, ever fill his shoes, but I truly believed that I could continue to bring our common-sense West Virginia values to Washington and do even more for our great state and our country.”
Prior to serving as a U.S. Senator, he served six years as West Virginia’s governor, a term as Secretary of State, 10 years in the State Senate, and a term in the House of Delegates. He was first elected to the House in 1982 at 35 years old; he is now 77.
He chose not to run for re-election this year. Manchin will be succeeded by Senator-elect Jim Justice, who currently serves as governor.
Manchin is known as a fierce defender of the state’s fossil fuel industry and a lawmaker who could forge compromises and deals across the political aisle.
Following his speech, Manchin’s fellow West Virginia Senator, Shelley Moore Capito (R), shared a few words on Manchin, saying as the state’s next senior senator, she will have “big shoes to fill.”
“Joe’s been the senior senator for West Virginia for all of my 10 years of my tenure. And the reality is, I got big shoes to fill here! And in case I forget that, Joe reminds me of that every single day,” Capito said. “It could be backing West Virginia jobs and economic development, fighting for our coal miners – Joe has always led with conviction.”
After their speeches, Manchin and Capito joined each other on the Senate floor for a hug.
