CHARLESTON — Former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin is pleading with West Virginia Republicans to allow independent voters to participate in GOP primary elections.
Manchin made his case as Republican Party leaders prepare to meet this weekend to determine whether the party will continue limiting primary participation to registered Republicans. The longtime Democrat said closed primaries benefit political parties over moderate voters.
Maintaining a closed system, Manchin said, would “shut out thousands of West Virginia voters” who do not affiliate with either major party.
“Closed primaries serve parties, not people,” Manchin said in a statement released ahead of the meeting. “If we want better candidates and better outcomes, we need more competition, not less. Shutting the door on that many voters isn’t just unfair — it’s politically short-sighted,” Manchin said, arguing that voters should have a greater role in choosing candidates before the general election.
He also urged West Virginians to weigh in directly with Republican officials ahead of the decision.
“If you care about good and fair representation in West Virginia, now is the time to be heard,” Manchin said. “Contact your elected Republican leaders and ask them to keep the primaries open.”
Republican Del. Chris Anders of Berkeley County responded sharply, criticizing Manchin’s involvement and portraying the push as an attempt to influence internal party rules.
“When Democrats like Joe Manchin work with squish Republicans like Capito to force open GOP primaries, it shows they can’t compete on a level playing field,” Anders told Mountaineer Journal. “West Virginians are tired of it.”
A resolution aimed at reopening Republican primaries failed in committee last week but is expected to resurface when party members return to the floor.
The West Virginia Republican Party is scheduled to meet Saturday, January 10, at 1 p.m. at the Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Charleston to decide whether its primaries will remain closed.