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Manchin’s Office Refutes Reports He’s Being Considered by Trump’s Team

Politico reported West Virginia senator eyed for Energy secretary

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III’s office has denied reports that he is being considered for Energy secretary. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)
West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin III’s office has denied reports that he is being considered for Energy secretary. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call file photo)

Sen. Joe Manchin’s office on Thursday denied reports that the West Virginia Democrat is being considered for a job in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.

Earlier Thursday, Politico reported that Manchin was being considered for Energy secretary, citing three sources close to the discussions. The story pointed out that Manchin is up for re-election in 2018 in a state that is becoming more Republican. (Trump carried the state by 42 points last month.)

But a spokesman in Manchin’s office said he didn’t think there was anything to the story and that it was the first the office had heard of it.

Manchin told Politico that neither he nor his office had been contacted by Trump’s transition team and that he didn’t have any trips to New York on his calendar.

Informed of the report, Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said, “Joe Manchin? That would give us another senator.”

(Probably unlikely, because the governor of West Virginia who would get to appoint a potential Manchin successor is a Democrat.)

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