Joe Manchin American politician, current governor of West Virginia. Date of Birth: 24.08.1947 Country: USA

Biography of Joe Manchin

Joe Manchin is an American politician and the current governor of West Virginia. He was born in Farmington, West Virginia, and is the second of five children. His ancestors were Italian immigrants. Manchin completed his education at West Virginia University, where he received a degree in information management in 1970.

After graduating, Manchin began working in various family businesses. In 1982, he was elected to the House of Delegates of the West Virginia Legislature, and in 1986, he was elected to the Senate. In 1996, Manchin ran for the position of governor but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Charlotte Pritt. However, in 2000, he became the Secretary of State of West Virginia.

In 2003, Manchin announced his candidacy for governor again. His main competitor, the incumbent governor Bob Wise, withdrew from the race due to a scandal. Manchin won both the primary and general elections by a large margin, becoming the 34th governor of West Virginia in January 2005. His victory marked the first time since 1964 that two consecutive governors from the same party held office.

During his tenure, Manchin faced controversy when he was sued by Don Blankenship, the executive director of Massey Energy, for violating the First Amendment. Blankenship alleged that Manchin used state resources against him due to political disagreements. In January 2006, Manchin made an incorrect statement about the number of miners who survived the Sago Mine disaster. He later apologized for the mistake and took actions to improve mine safety.

Manchin's decisions regarding mine safety were well-received by the public, and his popularity among voters increased. In February 2006, he ordered a temporary halt to coal mining until all mines passed safety inspections after two separate accidents resulted in the deaths of miners. In April 2006, Manchin garnered attention for signing rockets with a controversial message during a visit to American soldiers in Iraq. He later apologized for his actions.

In 2010, Senator Robert Byrd passed away, and as governor, Manchin was responsible for appointing his replacement. He also gained significant popularity for the upcoming elections, with his main rivals, Congresswoman Shelly Moore Capito and former Secretary of State Betty Ireland, trailing behind in public support, according to a survey by Rasmussen Reports.