Manchin and Sinema Vote With Republicans Against Changing Senate Rules for Elections Overhaul

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) speaks on the floor of the U.S. Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 19, 2022. Senate Television via AP

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) joined Republican senators on Jan. 19 to vote down an attempt by the Democrats to change the rules of the U.S. Senate in order to pass a major elections overhaul bill that was a top priority for President Joe Biden.

Manchin and Sinema have long said they would oppose the so-called “nuclear option” to change the Senate rules so that legislation can be passed with a simple majority.