Manchin votes align closely with Schumer, liberal Democrats Warren, Sanders despite portrayal as moderateSen. Joe Manchin has often frustrated Senate Democrats on key issues this Congress, and has a longstanding reputation as a moderate — but his overall voting record is closer to the party line than many other Senate centrists.
Manchin, D-W.Va., voted with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., 88% of the time this Congress, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., 91% of the time, according to a ProPublica database. Significantly, he also agreed with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on 91% of votes, according to ProPublica.
That number is lower than most other Democrats, including fellow moderate Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., who voted with Schumer on 96% of roll calls since 2021. The bulk of other Senate Democrats vote with Schumer 98% of the time, according to ProPublica.
Manchin, however, toes the party line on votes much more often than some GOP moderates.
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, cast just 62% of her votes with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., this Congress, per ProPublica. Collins actually voted more with Schumer at 73% of the time, according to the database.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, votes with McConnell 68% of the time. Even Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who in recent years has embraced former President Donald Trump and somewhat distanced himself from his moderate past, cast the same vote as McConnell only 73% of the time.
"The bottom line is he portrays himself as a moderate but at the end of the day he always ends up where Chuck Schumer needs him to be," a Senate GOP leadership aide said of Manchin.
In addition, Manchin backed and voted for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. ...............
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/manchin-votes-align-closely-schumer-liberal-democrats-warren-sanders-despite-portrayal-moderate
