LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Joe Manchin, a former U.S. senator who left the Democratic Party to become an independent, is supporting Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers.

Manchin, who is also supporting Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, said he is considering the candidates’ merits rather than their party affiliations. Although he stopped short of calling his support an official endorsement, Manchin said on CNBC: “I do support Mike Rogers. I think Mike Rogers is a good person. I think he’ll do a great job.”

When asked whether he would be comfortable with Rogers’ opponent, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, winning the Senate seat, Manchin answered, “No.”

Democratic U.S. Sen. Gary Peters is not seeking reelection, and Rogers and El-Sayed are running to succeed him. Michigan’s other U.S. Senate seat is held by Democratic Sen. Elissa Slotkin, who was elected in 2024.

Although El-Sayed is not a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, prominent progressive politicians—including independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez—have campaigned with him. El-Sayed also previously campaigned with political commentator Hasan Piker, who said in 2019 that “America deserved 9/11.” Since winning the primary on Aug. 4, El-Sayed has tried to distance himself from Piker.

Michigan is led by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, who cannot run again because of term limits. Voters will elect her successor in November. She served as a co-chair of former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign, but Michigan’s 15 electoral votes went to Donald Trump.

Manchin represented West Virginia in the Senate from Nov. 15, 2010, until Jan. 3, 2025. He left the Democratic Party in 2024 and registered as an independent.

Since leaving office, Manchin has helped launch the Independent Leadership Council, an initiative supporting candidates who run outside the two major parties.