Is Joe Manchin the Most Reasonable Democrat?

Considering his electorate, Joe Manchin is probably the most reasonable Democrat you will find in West Virginia (WV).

Political Stance and Ideological Location

Now, compared to the national party, Manchin is about as far to the right as a Democrat can be without being a modern-day Dixiecrat. For perspective, ideologically, he's to the right of Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Richard Shelby (R-MS).

Manchin votes with President Trump 51.2% of the time, according to FiveThirtyEight. This is particularly evident on social issues such as abortion and guns. He also voted to confirm Gorsuch and Kavanaugh, actions that, while enraging liberals, saved his skin during the upcoming midterms.

Support for Liberal Policies

Despite his conservative leanings, Manchin has supported a number of liberal policies in his tenure. He has consistently supported the existence, though not necessarily all areas, of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and voted to keep it intact when the GOP tried to repeal and 'replace' it. Additionally, he voted to convict Donald Trump on both counts during his impeachment trials.

Manchin's voting record demonstrates a pragmatic stance. He will vote with the Democrats when it is absolutely necessary for him to, but is otherwise a fairly moderate bipartisan Senator. For most Democrats, this is more than enough to cut him some slack.

Pragmatic Stance and Political Necessity

He's certainly a pragmatic Democrat given the conservative nature of his electorate. The only reason he remains a Democrat is to avoid being primaried from the right, which is not an option in West Virginia's political landscape. Since there is no further right in the Democratic Party, and challenging him from the left also presents significant challenges.

So, it is a pragmatic stance, and as long as there's a slim margin in the Senate, Democrats will caucus with him. However, they really shouldn't, as his position often compromises the principles of the party.