West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin is wielding new power as the most conservative Democrat in a 50–50 split Senate.

Manchin, a three-term Senator and former governor, will likely be Senate Democrats' deciding vote in the Biden era.

Already, Manchin has put the brakes on several Democratic wishes, such as abolishing the filibuster and a $15 minimum wage.

Manchin is WV's only statewide Democrat. In 2010, Manchin won the late-Sen. Robert Byrd's vacant seat with 54%.

In 2012, Manchin ran for a full six-year term in the U.S. Senate and won with 61% of the vote. (AP)

According to FiveThirtyEight, Manchin voted with former Pres. Trump 32.6% of the time in the 116th Congress.

Manchin voted with Democrats on several issues in 2020: He voted to oppose Justice Amy Coney Barrett's SCOTUS nomination.

He also voted to approve last March's $2T COVID-19 stimulus bill. Last Feb., he voted to convict Trump in the Senate.

Manchin could block Biden's climate agenda: In 2010, he sued the EPA for blocking mining permits in his state. (WaPo)