Former Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia said Monday that he will campaign on behalf of Republican Sen. Susan Collins as she fights a tough reelection campaign in Maine.
Manchin was a longtime Democrat and centrist who became an independent while nearing the end of his time in office in 2024. He said during an appearance on CNBC that he considers Collins a dedicated public servant.
“You lose the Susan Collins of the Senate, you’re losing the soul of the Senate,” Manchin said. “Basically, a person you can talk to, wants to do the right thing all the time.”
Collins, the only Republican senator in New England, faces former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson in November. The race is critical to Democratic aspirations to take control of the Senate.
BDN writer Michael Shepherd contributed to this report.