Joe Manchin
United States Senator from West Virginia
Incumbent
Assumed office November 15, 2010 Serving with Jay Rockefeller
Preceded by	Carte Goodwin
34th Governor of West Virginia
In office January 17, 2005 – November 15, 2010
Preceded by	Bob Wise
Succeeded by	Earl Ray Tomblin
27th Secretary of State of West Virginia
In office January 15, 2001 – January 17, 2005
Governor	Bob Wise
Preceded by	Ken Hechler
Succeeded by	Betty Ireland
Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 13th district
In office 1993–1996
Preceded by	Joseph M. Minard
Succeeded by	Mike Oliverio
Member of the West Virginia Senate from the 14th district
In office 1987–1993
Preceded by	James Davis
Succeeded by	Eugene Claypole
Member of the West Virginia House of Delegates from the unknown district
In office 1982–1986
Personal details
Born	August 24, 1947 (1947-08-24) (age 64) Farmington, West Virginia
Political party	Democratic Party
Spouse(s)	Gayle Conelly (1967–present)
Children	Heather Joseph IV Brooke
Residence	Fairmont, West Virginia
Alma mater	West Virginia University (B.S.)
Profession	Energy executive
Religion	Roman Catholic
Signature
Website	Senate website

Joseph "Joe" Manchin III (born August 24, 1947) is the junior United States Senator representing West Virginia. Manchin, a Democrat, was Governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010. He won the special election in November 2010 to fill the seat of Robert Byrd, who had died in office; the term ends January 3, 2013.

Early life, education, and business career

Manchin was born in Farmington, West Virginia, in 1947, the second of five children of Mary (née Gouzd) and John Manchin. His grandparents were Italian and Czechoslovakian immigrants. His father owned a carpet and furniture store. His grandfather, Joe Manchin I, owned a grocery store. Both his father and his grandfather were elected as Mayor of Farmington, West Virginia. His uncle James Manchin was a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates and was elected statewide as West Virginia Secretary of State and West Virginia State Treasurer.

He graduated from Farmington High School in 1965.

Manchin entered West Virginia University on a football scholarship in 1965; however, an injury during practice ended his football career. He graduated in 1970 with a degree in information management and later became involved in several family-owned businesses.

Early political career

Manchin was elected to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 1982 at the age of 35 and then got elected to the West Virginia Senate in 1986, where he served until 1996. He ran for governor in 1996, finishing second to Charlotte Pritt among a large group of candidates in the Democratic primary election. He ran for Secretary of State of West Virginia in 2000, winning easily.

Governor of West Virginia

Then-Governor Manchin at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, April 16, 2006

Elections

Manchin announced his intention to challenge incumbent governor Bob Wise in the 2004 Democratic primary election in May 2003, but Wise decided not to seek re-election after a scandal. Manchin won both the primary and general elections by large margins, and his election marked the first time that two people of the same political party followed one another in the West Virginia governor's office since 1964.

Manchin easily won re-election to a second term in 2008, capturing 70 percent of the vote.

Tenure

Manchin was a member of the National Governors Association, the Southern Governors' Association, the Democratic Governors Association. He also was chairman of the Southern States Energy Board, state's chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission and chairman of the Interstate Mining Compact Commission.

In July 2005, Massey Energy chief executive officer Don Blankenship sued Manchin, alleging that Manchin had violated Blankenship's First Amendment rights by threatening increased government scrutiny of his coal operations due to Blankenship's political activities.^{[clarification needed]} Blankenship had poured substantial money into campaigns to defeat a proposed pension bond amendment and oppose the re-election of state Supreme Court Justice Warren McGraw, and he fought against an increase in the severance tax.^{[clarification needed]} Soon after defeat of the pension bond amendment, the state Division of Environmental Protection revoked a permit approval for controversial new silos near Marsh Fork Elementary School in Raleigh County. While area residents had complained for some time that the coal operation there endangered their children, Blankenship claimed that the DEP acted in response to his opposition to the bond amendment.

Manchin speaks during the second day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, in his capacity as chair of the Democratic Governors Association.

During the Sago Mine disaster of early January 2006, Manchin initially appeared to confirm incorrect reports that 12 miners had survived; in actuality only one survived. Manchin later acknowledged that an unintentional miscommunication had occurred with rescue teams within the mine. On February 1, 2006, he ordered a stop to all coal production in West Virginia, pending safety checks, after two more miners were killed in separate accidents. A total of 16 West Virginia coal miners died from mining accidents in early 2006. Manchin's overall handling of the Sago mine incident may have enhanced his popularity. In November 2006, SurveyUSA ranked him as one of the most popular governors in the country with a 74 percent approval rating.

On April 15, 2006, during an Easter visit to U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq, Manchin generated controversy by posing for photographers while signing two missiles at Balad Air Force Base. One of the messages read, "Sending you to hell, from Almost Heaven, West Virginia." He told the media: "I just thought, 'Hey, these are people doing tremendous harm to our people.' I wanted to send them a little message." After receiving several complaints, Manchin apologized.

U.S. Senate

Elections

2010

Memorial service for Robert Byrd at the State Capitol July 2, 2010.

Speculation had centered on what Manchin's response would be if U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd passed away, but Manchin consistently refused to comment on the subject prior to Byrd's death. However, he did state that he would not appoint himself to the position. Byrd died on June 28, 2010. Manchin in his capacity as Governor had the responsibility of appointing a replacement. On July 16, he appointed Carte Goodwin, his 36-year-old legal adviser, and Goodwin became the youngest U.S. Senator.

A Rasmussen Reports poll found Manchin leading in the potential 2010 special election for the seat against Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito and former West Virginia Secretary of State Betty Ireland. On July 20, 2010 Manchin officially announced he would seek the Senate seat. In the Democratic primary on August 28, he defeated former Congressman Ken Hechler. In the general election, he defeated Republican John Raese; the seat is next up for election in November 2012.

2012

Manchin’s seat in the Senate will be up again in 2012. Early polling finds Manchin heavily favored. He leads Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito 50-39, 2010 opponent John Raese 60-31 and Congressman David McKinley 57-28.

Tenure

Manchin was sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden as a U.S. Senator on November 15, 2010, succeeding appointed Senator Carte Goodwin. Before his swearing-in, rumors suggested that the Republican Party was courting Manchin to change parties, although the Republicans later suggested that Manchin was the source of the rumors. Manchin named Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis to be his chief of staff. Kofinis was formerly an adviser to Wesley Clark and John Edwards.

On December 9, 2010, Manchin was the sole Democrat to vote against cloture for the 2011 National Defense Authorization Act, which contained a provision to repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell. In an interview with The Associated Press, Manchin cited the advice of retired military chaplains as a basis for his decision to vote against repeal. He also indicated he wanted more time to "hear the full range of viewpoints from the citizens of West Virginia."

On December 18, 2010, Manchin was not present for the vote to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and the vote on the DREAM Act. The National Republican Senatorial Committee criticized Manchin for attending a family Christmas gathering instead of voting on the sensitive issues.

In June, 2011, Manchin joined with Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) seeking a crackdown on bitcoin currency, saying it facilitated illegal drug trade transactions. "The transactions leave no traditional [bank transfer] money trail for investigators to follow, and leave it hard to prove a package recipient knew in advance what was in a shipment," using an "'anonymizing network' known as Tor." One opinion website said the senators wanted "to disrupt [the] Silk Road drug website."

Committee assignments

• Committee on Armed Services
  • Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
  • Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
  • Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
• Committee on the Budget
• Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
• Committee on Rules and Administration

Electoral history

Personal life

Manchin has been married since 1967 to the former Gayle Conelly, and they have three children: Heather, Joseph IV, and Brooke. He is a member of the National Rifle Association and a licensed pilot.

In 2006 and 2010 Manchin delivered commencement addresses at Wheeling Jesuit University and Davis & Elkins College. He received honorary degrees from both institutions.

United States Senators from West Virginia Class 1 Van Winkle • Boreman • Caperton • Price • Hereford • Camden • Faulkner • Scott • Chilton • Sutherland • Neely • Hatfield • Holt • Kilgore • Laird • Revercomb • Byrd • Goodwin • Manchin Class 2 Willey • Davis • Kenna • Camden • S. Elkins • D. Elkins • Watson • N. Goff • D. Elkins • G. Goff • Neely • Rosier • Shott • Revercomb • Neely • Hoblitzell • Randolph • Rockefeller

Governors of West Virginia Boreman · Farnsworth · Stevenson · Jacob · Mathews · Jackson · Wilson · Fleming · MacCorkle · Atkinson · White · Dawson · Glasscock · Hatfield · Cornwell · Morgan · Gore · Conley · Kump · Holt · Neely · Meadows · Patteson · Marland · Underwood · Barron · Smith · Moore · Rockefeller · Moore · Caperton · Underwood · Wise · Manchin · Tomblin Italics indicate acting officeholders