At least one Democrat is being honest.
Former Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin is crossing party lines to support Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine, adding a prominent bipartisan endorsement to one of the most closely watched U.S. Senate races of the 2026 midterm elections.
Manchin, who left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent in 2024, publicly backed Collins on Monday and praised his former Senate colleague for her willingness to work with lawmakers from both parties.
The endorsement could have broader political significance because Republicans and Democrats are battling over control of the Senate. A Republican victory in Maine would help the GOP defend a seat that Democrats have identified as a major pickup opportunity.
Joe Manchin Endorses Susan Collins
During a Monday television interview, Manchin offered unusually strong praise for Collins, describing the longtime Maine senator as the “soul of the Senate.”
Manchin argued that losing lawmakers willing to negotiate across party lines would make an already divided Congress even more difficult to navigate.
“You lose the Susan Collinses of the Senate, you’re losing the soul of the Senate,” Manchin said.
He described Collins as someone willing to work behind the scenes and engage with colleagues even when political disagreements arise.
The endorsement is especially notable because Manchin spent most of his political career as a Democrat before becoming an independent near the end of his Senate tenure.
Collins Welcomes Manchin’s Support
Collins responded by highlighting the years she and Manchin spent working together on bipartisan legislation.
The two senators collaborated on several major initiatives during their time in Washington, including the 2021 infrastructure law.
They also worked on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act in 2022 and efforts to update the Electoral Count Act following the 2020 presidential election.
Collins said their record demonstrated what lawmakers from opposing parties can accomplish when they search for common ground.
The Maine Republican has frequently emphasized bipartisanship during her long Senate career, while critics have challenged that characterization by pointing to votes in which she has supported Republican priorities.
Maine Senate Race Could Have National Consequences
Collins is seeking another term against Democratic nominee Troy Jackson, a former president of the Maine Senate and a fifth-generation logger.
The contest has attracted national attention because Maine is considered an important battleground in the fight for control of the U.S. Senate.
For President Donald Trump, the outcome could matter considerably.
Presidents depend heavily on Senate allies to confirm judges and administration officials and to advance legislation. Every competitive Senate seat therefore carries additional importance when the chamber’s balance of power is narrow.
That means Manchin’s endorsement is more than a personal show of support for an old Senate colleague. If it helps Collins appeal to independent or centrist voters, Republicans could benefit from holding the seat.
Whether the endorsement ultimately changes voters’ decisions remains to be seen.
Collins and Jackson Offer Maine Voters Different Choices
The Maine campaign also presents voters with significant policy differences.
Jackson supports Medicare for All and has advocated replacing Immigration and Customs Enforcement with a different federal immigration enforcement structure.
He has made affordability and working-class economic concerns central themes of his campaign, arguing that Maine families need relief from rising healthcare, housing and energy expenses.
Collins, meanwhile, is campaigning heavily on her experience, seniority and ability to bring federal resources back to Maine.
Both campaigns have also criticized the other’s record as the November election approaches.
Manchin Has Long Clashed With Progressives
Manchin’s endorsement is consistent with his increasingly vocal criticism of the progressive wing of American politics.
While serving as a Democratic senator from West Virginia, Manchin frequently found himself at odds with members of his own party.
One of his most visible disagreements came during former President Joe Biden’s push for the Build Back Better agenda.
Manchin objected to the size and cost of the proposal and repeatedly warned that excessive federal spending could contribute to inflation.
Those disagreements made him a frequent target of progressive Democrats while simultaneously giving him a reputation as one of Washington’s most prominent centrists.
Manchin Rejects Socialist Candidates
Manchin has also made clear that there are ideological lines he is unwilling to cross.
During a previous CBS interview, he was asked whether he could support a socialist candidate.
His response was emphatic: “No way.”
Manchin said he could support individual proposals that he considered worthwhile but questioned several policies associated with socialist political movements.
Jackson does not identify himself as a democratic socialist. However, he has received support from progressive figures and organizations, and his campaign platform includes Medicare for All.
That distinction is important because Manchin’s criticism of socialism should not automatically be interpreted as a description of Jackson himself.
Manchin Left the Democratic Party in 2024
Manchin’s political evolution has been years in the making.
After serving as a Democratic governor of West Virginia, he entered the U.S. Senate in 2010 and became one of the chamber’s best-known moderate Democrats.
As Democrats moved left on several economic and social issues, Manchin increasingly criticized the direction of the national party.
In May 2024, he officially left the Democratic Party and registered as an independent.
His endorsement of Collins is another example of his willingness to support candidates outside his former party.
What Manchin’s Endorsement Means for Republicans
The immediate beneficiary is Collins, who can point to Manchin’s endorsement as evidence that she maintains relationships with politicians outside the Republican Party.
The broader Republican benefit depends on what happens in November.
Holding Maine would help Republicans in their effort to maintain Senate control, while a Democratic victory would move Democrats closer to capturing the chamber.
That battle has consequences for Trump’s presidency because Senate control affects legislation, judicial confirmations and presidential appointments.
Manchin’s endorsement therefore adds another national dimension to a Maine race already receiving substantial attention from both parties.
Maine Senate Battle Heads Toward November
With Election Day approaching, Collins and Jackson are competing for voters in a state known for political independence and ticket splitting.
Collins is emphasizing experience and bipartisan accomplishments.
Jackson is presenting himself as a working-class alternative focused on affordability, healthcare and economic concerns.
Now Manchin has inserted himself into that debate by backing his former Republican colleague.
His endorsement does not determine the outcome, but it gives Collins another prominent supporter as both parties fight over a Senate seat that could have consequences far beyond Maine.