Joe Manchin and Heather Manchin discuss effort to boost independent candidates on CBS’ Face the Nation

Former Sen. Joe Manchin and his daughter, Heather Manchin, discussed their push to elect more independents during an interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” that aired Aug. 2, 2026.

In the interview, the Manchins described an initiative aimed at helping more independent candidates win elections, with a focus on broadening the field beyond candidates affiliated with the two major parties.

The discussion also included a question about the boundaries of that effort, including whether they could support a self-described socialist candidate. The interview framed the issue as a test of how the initiative would handle candidates whose policy labels differ from the Manchins’ stated approach to independence and governing priorities.

Joe Manchin’s involvement brings a recognizable figure from the center of U.S. politics, and the interview highlighted his continued interest in the independent candidate path after leaving the Senate. Heather Manchin’s role, as described in the CBS segment, centered on the practical work of identifying candidates and advancing them to voters.

The segment aired as the political debate continues over whether voters will elect candidates outside the two-party system and whether independent campaigns can build the resources needed to compete in local, state, and federal races.

While the interview focused on the concept of electing independents, it also underscored that the effort would still require decisions about candidate vetting and alignment on major questions once a candidate moves from advocacy to public office.

The CBS report indicates the Manchins discussed their perspective on what makes an independent candidate viable and how they would respond if a candidate’s stated political identity, including a socialist label, conflicted with their view of the kind of independence voters are seeking.

It was not immediately clear from the CBS segment details alone what specific offices, races, or timelines the Manchins’ initiative is targeting, or what public criteria they would apply in candidate selection and support decisions.