Washington ( CNN ) -- Independent Senator Angus King announced Wednesday that he will continue to caucus with the Democratic Party despite their loss of the majority late Tuesday night . And despite rumors that he might be switching sides , moderate Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin also insists he 'll stick with the party . In a press conference on Tuesday , the Maine senator was quick to downplay his decision as a political move , telling the public that he will not `` become a Democrat '' or side with all the their policy positions going forward . `` Who I caucus with is less important than who I work with -- every day in the committee , on the senate floor , in the hallways , and here at home , '' he said . `` That 's what 's best for Maine -- and that 's what 's best for the country ; that 's what I 've done so far . '' King , who considered siding with the Republicans , would have added an extra seat to the majority if he caucused with them . `` A fair question at the outset is whether being in the majority caucus is n't reason enough in itself to make the switch , '' he said . `` But I think there are other considerations -- particularly as they relate to Maine -- that offset this argument. `` King said he now has the responsibility to `` pull his colleagues toward the center , '' the same type of role he said fellow Mainer and Republican Sen. Susan Collins had under a Democratic majority . Manchin echoed King 's sentiments in an interview Wednesday , saying he would n't leave the Democratic party to caucus with the GOP despite his own party losing the Senate majority Tuesday night . `` If you do n't have moderates on both sides , you do n't get anything done , '' he told The Washington Post . He said the Republicans `` played it masterfully , '' and admitted that he 's frustrated with Democratic leadership -- especially Harry Reid . `` This is a real ass-whuppin , '' Manchin said . The first-term senator is rumored to be considering leaving Congress and mounting a bid for governor in his home state . `` One of the real problems with modern American politicsâ€ ” and the Congressâ€ ” is polarization , '' King said . `` Both sides need problem-solvers who are more interested in getting things done than scoring ideological or political points , '' he said . With Ebola battle brewing , Obama heads to Maine . Justin Peligri contributed to this report .
Independent Sen. Angus King would not say before the midterm election if he would vote with Democrats . King says the Democrats never made him vote along party lines .