Former Democrat Joe Manchin to campaign with Republican Susan Collins in Maine ahead of midterms

Former Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin will campaign this week for Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins as she attempts to get reelected for a sixth term next month.

Manchin, a former centrist Democrat, endorsed Collins last month, calling her the "soul of the Senate," and praised her as someone "who wants to do the right thing all of the time."

Collins is fighting a tough reelection campaign against former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson in what is expected to be one of the most competitive races of the cycle.

The former senator told the New York Times that he will spend the day with Collins and campaign with her in Maine on Wednesday and that he had “never” worked with a “more centrist, independent-minded person.”

Manchin also rejected Jackson's and other Democratic claims that Collins is President Donald Trump's "senator." 

“She’s not Donald Trump’s senator,” Manchin said. “She’s not the Republican senator. She’s Maine’s senator.”

Collins has opposed some of the Trump administration's biggest accomplishments, including the One Big Beautiful Bill last year and against War Secretary Pete Hegseth's confirmation.

Manchin previously endorsed Collins in 2020. The West Virginia senator was long known for his willingness to break with the Democratic Party, and he later left it in 2024.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.