Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia recently announced that he will not support President Joe Biden’s judicial picks unless they have the support of at least one Republican. Manchin, who is not seeking reelection and will retire from the Senate, has made his stance clear after voting against several judicial picks this week.
In an interview with Politico, Manchin explained, “Just one Republican. That’s all I’m asking for. Give me something bipartisan. This is my own little filibuster.” He further stated that he has made his position known to his Democratic colleagues, saying, “I’m sick and tired of it, I can’t take it anymore.”
Manchin’s personal filibuster has already prevented Adeel Mangi, Biden’s nominee for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, from being confirmed. Mangi, who would be the first Muslim-American on a federal appeals court, has faced opposition from Manchin as well as other Democratic Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada due to his past ties to an organization with alleged ties to terrorist organizations.
The potential blocking of Mangi’s nomination has sparked conversations on both sides of the aisle, with some praising Manchin for his bipartisan stance while others criticize him for potentially preventing the confirmation of a historic nominee.
In his interview with CNN, Manchin reiterates his stance, saying, “I’m going to be very honest with everybody if my Democratic colleagues and friends can’t get one Republican vote, don’t count on me.” He adds, “I’m not leaving this place unless I can practice what I preach and I’m preaching, basically bipartisanship. This is my little way of doing it.”
Manchin’s stance on this issue is not new. He has consistently called for bipartisanship and has voted against several of Biden’s judicial picks who did not have any Republican support. However, this is the first time that he has explicitly stated that he will not support any nominee without the backing of at least one Republican.
While Manchin has faced criticism from some Democrats for his stance, others argue that his position allows for maximum political flexibility, as he could potentially serve in a Republican or Democratic administration.
The Biden administration has not yet commented on Manchin’s statement. However, Manchin believes that the administration needs to make more of an effort to garner Republican support for their judicial picks. “If you’ve got a decent person you can at least get one,” he said, adding, “Just go ask Lisa, go ask Susan, even Lindsey.”
Manchin is referring to Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, who have shown a tendency to cross party lines, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who has also voted in favor of some of Biden’s previous judicial picks.
As the Senate remains divided with a 50-50 split between Democrats and Republicans, Manchin’s vote holds significant weight in the confirmation process. With the potential for more judicial vacancies to be filled in the coming years, Manchin’s stance on bipartisan support for nominees could have a significant impact on the makeup of the federal judiciary.
However, others argue that the need for bipartisanship should not outweigh the importance of diversity and representation in the judiciary. While Manchin’s argument for seeking support from both parties may have some merit, some feel that it could also potentially hinder the progress toward a more diverse and inclusive bench.
As of now, Manchin’s stance remains firm, and it is yet to be seen if the Biden administration will make efforts to garner bipartisan support for their judicial picks. The outcome of this situation also highlights the ongoing debate surrounding the use of the filibuster, with some calling for its removal to allow for easier confirmation of presidential nominees.
