Mitch McConnell shuts down hope of Republican support for Joe Manchin's voting rights compromise

published 17 June 2021

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) made it clear on Thursday that he does not support Sen. Joe Manchin's (D-W.Va.) Stacey Abrams-backed revisions to the For The People Act, claiming Manchin's substitute "still retains S.1's rotten core."

"In reality," McConnell said, "the plan endorsed by Stacey Abrams is no compromise," and still maintains an "assault" on the idea that states, rather than the federal government, should run their own elections.

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Manchin has repeatedly emphasized his opposition to "sweeping" voter reform, but shared on Wednesday changes he would support, including expanded early voting and a ban on partisan gerrymandering. Abrams' recent backing is expected to galvanize support from Manchin's fellow Democrats, but, unless the West Virginia senator makes good on what could be movement toward filibuster reform, that still might not be enough.

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Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.

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