Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat turned independent, is considering a run as his former party’s nominee after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection in 2024, CNN reports.

Read the full CNN report.

CNN’s Jake Tapper reports Manchin is considering re-registering as a Democrat and testing the waters for a presidential run.

Manchin, 76, on Sunday called for Biden to step aside during CNN’s “State of the Union” with host Tapper.

“I came to the decision with a heavy heart that I think it’s time to pass the torch to a new generation,” the West Virginia lawmaker told CNN’s Jake Tapper during the Sunday episode of “State of the Union.”

Manchin said he did not speak publicly about Biden’s debate performance to give the president a week to “evaluate” the strategy moving forward. He also said he wanted to allow his colleagues who are in tight races to comment.

“I thought the first week was needed for the president to evaluate, talk to his family, his staff, and make some decisions,” Manchin told Tapper.

“I’m concerned about the president’s health and well-being I really am,” Manchin said on ABC’s “This Week,” per the AP.

Manchin also said he believes Biden has the opportunity to use the remainder of his term to unite the country, calm political rhetoric and show the world how a peaceful transfer of power can be done by the superpower of the world “in a most respectful way.”

“I’m hoping for that because I think it’ll leave him with a tremendous legacy as one of the greatest leaders that we’ve had,” Manchin said.

He also said replacing Biden on the ticket should be in “an open process.” He said he is “partial to governors” because governors “can’t afford to be partial.” He singled out Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, as leaders who haven’t divided their states and have instead “brought people together.”

“Right now, the country and the world needs our president, Joe Biden, with the compassion he’s always had and the ability to bring people together, to use all of his forces and energy towards that,” Manchin said.

Shortly after announcing he will not run, Biden publicly endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement on the Democratic ticket.

“My very first decision as the party nominee in 2020 was to pick Kamala Harris as my Vice President. And it’s been the best decision I’ve made,” Biden said in a statement. “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats — it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

The AP reports Manchin said he was not trying to have Harris replaced. “A healthy competition is what it’s all about,” Manchin said.

Manchin, who became an independent in May after years as a Democrat, is not seeking reelection to the Senate.

Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election.

The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which the 81-year-old president trailed off, often gave nonsensical answers and failed to call out the former president’s many falsehoods.

Biden plans to serve out the remainder of his term in office, which ends at noon ET on Jan. 20, 2025.

“It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” Biden wrote in a letter posted to his X account.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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