Manchin funded by out-of-state donors, only 1% of individual campaign donations come from West Virginians

West Virginia Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin raised only a portion of his campaign funds from voters in his home state, according to a Fox News Digital analysis, while out-of-state contributions and corporate donations make up the bulk of their fundraising.

Manchin, who stunned Washington last week after announcing a deal to advance a green energy and pharmaceutical spending bill called the Inflation Reduction Act, received roughly $6.1 million from individual donors who gave more than $200 in total to his campaign between January 2021 and June 30. 2022, according to documents from the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC).

Of that total, only about $65,000 came from donations from people who reside in West Virginia, while more than $6 million came from individuals in other states. Manchin also received about $176,000 in small dollar donations, but it’s unclear how much of that came from individuals in West Virginia, as campaigns are not required to report donor information on contributions of less than $200.

Manchin is not up for re-election until 2024, and has not announced whether he will seek another term in the Senate. Manchin’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., left, and Sen. Chuck Schumer, DN.Y.
(F. Carter Smith/Kent Nishimura)

The Inflation Reduction Act, which Manchin announced as a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., last week includes $433 billion in new spending on green energy programs and expanded benefits of the Affordable Care Act. The new spending would be paid for by raising $739 billion in revenue through a corporate tax increase and stricter IRS enforcement. The balance of additional revenue would make up the shortfall, leading Democrats to insist the bill will reduce inflation in the future.

The bill faces numerous hurdles to pass the Senate before the August recess, including ensuring that all 50 Democrats can be in Washington to vote. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., also has not announced whether she would vote for the bill. Sinema and Manchin were key drivers in killing massive Build Back Better spending proposals during President Biden’s first year in office.

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Manchin’s support for the bill, which includes large payments for subsidies and green energy programs, is due in part to other provisions in the bill that could benefit West Virginia’s energy production.

The bill includes provisions to streamline the production of natural gas pipelines, for example. Rep. Alex Mooney, RW.Va., however, criticized the bill for “raising taxes on West Virginia’s coal mining industry and providing subsidies to liberals in deep blue states to drive electric vehicles” in a column in local newspaper last week.

Sen. Joe Manchin, DW.Va., speaks to reporters in the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC, Monday, Aug. 1, 2022.
(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, RW.Va., told Politico that Manchin would have trouble convincing his constituents that the bill is good for West Virginia.

“It’s not good for the state, and I think it’s hard to sell to the state,” Capito said.

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Since the Inflation Reduction Act was announced, Republicans have criticized Manchin for giving in to Biden’s political agenda after holding the line against the Build Back Better proposals. And some suggest he would face a tough re-election path if he runs again.

Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., said Manchin’s seat would be a GOP target in 2024, Politico reported.