West Virginia Republican Patrick Morrisey, the state's current attorney general, officially filed as a U.S. Senate candidate on Thursday and said that incumbent Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin has consistently "sided with Chuck Schumer and his liberal friends in Washington over hardworking West Virginians."
Morrisey announced his intention to run back in July, but filed the necessary paperwork on Thursday. He used the occasion to blast Manchin, who consistently portrays himself as the most conservative Democrat in the Senate.
"I have a record as attorney general of fighting for and advancing the conservative principles that so many West Virginians share," Morrisey said. "For too long, Sen. Joe Manchin has sided with Chuck Schumer and his liberal friends in Washington over hardworking West Virginians."
"West Virginians deserve a proven conservative in the Senate—someone who will protect their gun rights, cut their taxes, get rid of the job-killing EPA regulations, and protect the unborn," he said.
Manchin announced earlier this week that he also plans to file for reelection by the Friday deadline, but it took some urging from his current Democrat colleagues, according to the New York Times.
Manchin reportedly expressed his view to Schumer and other Democrats that the Senate "sucks." He told the Times he was "very vocal" with Schumer.
"I’ve said this point blank: If people like me can’t win from red states, you’ll be in the minority the rest of your life," Manchin said.
Manchin was criticized earlier this year by President Donald Trump, who said Manchin was all talk and no action when it comes to bipartisanship.
"He talks but he doesn’t do anything," Trump said. "You know, it’s like he’s the great centrist, but he’s really not a centrist. And I think the people of West Virginia will see that."