Why isn't Manchin a Republican?

[dmmidmi]

West Virginia is currently shifting from Democratic to Republican, but Manchin's rise came in the tail end, so his political career came at a time when conservative Democrats routinely held political office. This was how he was elected to the state legislature in 1986.

And he has done well as a Democrat, elected Secretary of State in 2000, Governor in 2004 and Senator in 2010.

He's now in his late 60s, so why he would want to switch to the other party?

He also likely agrees with Democrats on many economic issues. He might have switched if recent years had seen the rise of big government Republicans, but that's not what happened.

No.

WV Senate: 27 Democrats, 10 Republicans
WV House of Delegates: 53 Democrats, 47 Republicans
A Democrat has occupied the Governor's mansion since 2001, both US Senate seats since the late-1950s (though this is likely getting ready to change), the AG office from 1933 until last year, and save for the four years between 2005 and 2009, the SOS office since 1977.

Yes, Obama lost the state twice in huge landslides. And no, I'm not from West Virginia. But from the information we have available to us, Democrats still run things.

Joe Manchin's political views likely accurately represent the political views of most Democrats in West Virginia. And that is why he's a Democrat.

[dmmidmi]

He's more conservative than even some Reps in the senate,  

That is a false statement.

and for all intents and purposes his policies line up more with theirs than the Dems.

That is also a false statement.

if the senate switches, he'll give everything serious thought.

This, too, is a false statement.

But why is Manchin a Democrat in the first place,

Because his political positions have always aligned much more with those of the Democratic Party than the Republican Party, and they continue to do so.

and will he switch as the Republican Party's power continues to grow in West Virginia?

No.

That's my only explanation for anything he does.

That's too bad.

Being a Democrat is, for now, still a safer way of being elected locally in WV.

Indeed, but that's not relevant to Manchin's political party affiliation.

1. Kirk, Portman, Collins, Grassley, perhaps McCain - all to the left of Manchin. Granted, it's not as if there are no other senate democrats who are as conservative are almost as conservative as Manchin is - Heidi Heitkamp comes to mind.

Please find one reliable source that ranks any of the aforementioned GOP Senators as more liberal than Joe Manchin.

[dmmidmi]

Because he's a Democrat.  Susan Collins is a Republican.  John Barrow is a Democrat.  Andrew Jackson was a Democrat.  Abraham Lincoln was a Republican.

Throughout history, they've been two rival teams.  Period.  You pick your team, and most politicians remain with that team for life even if some members of the team's coalition changes.  I'm guessing Manchin's father and grandfather were Democrats, and that's reason enough for him.  Good for him, because that's how I feel about being a New England Republican.

This.  He strikes me as more of a Reagan Democrat, or even someone who voted for Clinton twice but has voted for Republicans ever since.

I'm guessing Manchin has never cast his ballot for a Republican in his life. He knows which team he plays for.

[dmmidmi]

West Virginia is currently shifting from Democratic to Republican, but Manchin's rise came in the tail end, so his political career came at a time when conservative Democrats routinely held political office. This was how he was elected to the state legislature in 1986.

And he has done well as a Democrat, elected Secretary of State in 2000, Governor in 2004 and Senator in 2010.

He's now in his late 60s, so why he would want to switch to the other party?

He also likely agrees with Democrats on many economic issues. He might have switched if recent years had seen the rise of big government Republicans, but that's not what happened.

No.

WV Senate: 27 Democrats, 10 Republicans
WV House of Delegates: 53 Democrats, 47 Republicans
A Democrat has occupied the Governor's mansion since 2001, both US Senate seats since the late-1950s (though this is likely getting ready to change), the AG office from 1933 until last year, and save for the four years between 2005 and 2009, the SOS office since 1977.

Yes, Obama lost the state twice in huge landslides. And no, I'm not from West Virginia. But from the information we have available to us, Democrats still run things.

Joe Manchin's political views likely accurately represent the political views of most Democrats in West Virginia. And that is why he's a Democrat.

The WV House and Senate were much more Democratic a few short years ago, and the HoD is widely expected to flip this year.

You just stated yourself the Republicans are likely to gain a Senate seat,

I did. SMC is an extremely good candidate. They also just sent Joe Manchin to the US Senate. Twice.

recently won the AG race,

One win since early in FDR's administration is indicative of a trend?

and that Obama lost the state in a landslide twice.

Does that have to do with a rightward shift, or something that Barack Obama has in common with Richard Sherman and Kanye West?

Furthermore, the only Democratic representative from the state (Nick Rahall) is in real trouble this year.

I can't argue with that. You are right here.

In addition, polls show Hillary Clinton losing WV (and it's not particularly close, except against Cruz) despite the fact that polls show her leading in Arkansas and holding her own in other parts of Appalachia.

By "polls," you mean "poll," right?

I'm not sure how anyone could possibly deny that WV is trending heavily Republican.

Because that assertion is based on about six years' worth of data, and totally ignores the partisan makeup of their state legislature and the person occupying the Governor's mansion.