Deb Haaland Appears Set for Confirmation With Manchin's Support, Illustrating Senator's Power

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin announced Wednesday he will vote to confirm President Joe Biden's Interior Secretary nominee Deb Haaland, likely paving the way for her confirmation in the Senate.

In a statement sent to Newsweek via email, Manchin wrote, "Given the political divisions currently facing our country, I believe that every Presidential nominee and every Member of Congress must be committed to a new era of bipartisanship. That is the standard the overwhelming majority of Americans expect and deserve."

"With respect to Representative Haaland and her confirmation hearing, while we do not agree on every issue, she reaffirmed her strong commitment to bipartisanship, addressing the diverse needs of our country and maintaining our nation's energy independence," Manchin's statement said. "I believe Deb Haaland will be a Secretary of the Interior for every American and will vote to confirm her. I look forward to working with her to protect our public lands and ensure the responsible use of all our natural resources in a bipartisan manner."

Manchin, who serves as the chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, was previously undecided on his vote for Haaland.

NBC News' Capitol Hill correspondent Leigh Ann Caldwell reported Monday that Manchin and Haaland met on a Zoom call outside of the confirmation hearings as Manchin had additional questions.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information becomes available.