During an interview with CNN, West Virginia Democrat Senator Joe Manchin announced his endorsement of Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski.
The Alaska Republican is facing an uphill re-election battle after she voted to impeach former President Donald Trump which triggered him to endorse challenger, Kelly Tshibaka.
The Hill reports:
“I’m endorsing my dear friend Lisa Murkowski,” Manchin said alongside the Alaska senator during a joint-interview with CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“Alaska could only be so lucky to have her continue to serve them,” he added.
Manchin said it is “hypocritical” that lawmakers “work with a person day in and day out, and then, when they’re in cycle, you’re supposed to be against them because they have an R or a D by their name.”
“If these are good people I have worked with, we have accomplished a lot, why in the world wouldn’t I want to work with them and continue to work with them? It doesn’t matter whether I’m a Democrat and they’re Republican, or vice versa. They have been my dear friends, and we get a lot accomplished. And we — I think the country has fared better with us working together than not,” he added.
Later in the interview, Murkowski said she also plans to endorse Manchin for another term if he decides to run. Manchin has been the subject of criticism from Democrat colleagues over his refusal to back Biden’s Build Back Better agenda or make changes to the filibuster.