When Manchin goes, he isn’t getting replaced by a more left Dem. He is as left as the state is gonna go for some time. Trump had ~70% of the vote; even the most liberal county, Monongalia, still broke for Trump, and that’s where WVU is.

Anyone who thinks the citizens here will vote for another Dem are delusional. He’s staying in power because he was already there, simple as. He was an agreeable Dem because he would talk about coal lovingly and bitch about things people wanted him to bitch about. If/when he swaps to R, he’s going further right or the people here will vote a better conservative in.

If you need to figure out Joe Manchin, watch Hamilton. He will sacrifice his constituents and values to be the one making and being made deals. He will speak one way and act another to cover that.