Associated Press Published

Manchin Says he Opposes Education Nominee

Betsy DeVos

West Virginia’s Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin says he plans to vote against President Trump’s nomination of Betsy DeVos to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.

Manchin, who has supported several other Trump nominees, says he has “serious concerns” about the qualifications of DeVos, who has been an advocate of public school vouchers and charter schools.

He says that approach doesn’t match the needs of West Virginia’s rural communities and would pull limited resources from public schools that need them most.

The 59-year-old DeVos is a wealthy GOP contributor, philanthropist and businesswoman from Michigan.

West Virginia’s Republican U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito plans to vote for DeVos.

A Capito spokeswoman tells the Charleston Gazette-Mail that DeVos has devoted herself to improving education in Michigan and across the country.