Nelson Peltz hosted Joe Manchin for fundraiser featuring Republican

Wall Street veteran Nelson Peltz hosted a $5,000 a plate fundraiser for Sen. Joe Manchin at the billionaire’s sprawling Florida estate last month, where several top executives said they privately hoped the conservative Democrat would switch parties and run against President Joe Biden in the 2024 elections, CNBC has learned.

Peltz, who is a co-founder of investment fund Trian Partners, hosted Manchin along with at least 50 executives for a lunch aimed at raising funds for the West Virginia lawmaker’s reelection campaign, according to someone who attended the event. They declined to be named in order to discuss the private event.

A spokeswoman for Peltz confirmed that the longtime finance executive hosted the fundraiser and reaffirmed the billionaire’s support for Manchin. Emails to Manchin’s campaign office and a call to his Capitol Hill office weren’t immediately returned. Manchin has previously said he has no plans to switch parties.

“Mr. Peltz supports Mr. Manchin. He believes Mr. Manchin is a rare elected politician from both sides of the aisle who puts country before party, something which Mr. Peltz believes is much needed in our country today,” Anne Tarbell, Peltz’s spokeswoman, said in an email to CNBC. Peltz told CNBC last year that he speaks to Manchin every week and has been personal friends with him for a decade.

Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, along with Home Depot co-founders Ken Langone and Bernard Marcus, who generally support Republicans, were among executives at the fundraiser, according to the person who attended the event. Longtime investor Leon Cooperman, who has contributed to those on both sides of the aisle, was also at the lunch. Representatives for Schwarzman, Langone, Marcus and Cooperman did not return requests seeking comment.

Over a lunch choice of chicken or fish, Manchin told the crowd of donors that he plans to run for reelection in 2024, according to the attendee. Manchin has previously said that he’ll make a decision about running for reelection after the 2022 midterm elections.

Peltz’s estate in Palm Beach, Fla. is reportedly worth at least $95 million. Virtual Globetrotting, a website that tracks mansions owned by billionaires across the country, shows that Peltz’s oceanfront mansion boasts an outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court and a basketball court. The venue has been a host to other high profile events, including a fundraiser for then President Donald Trump as well as Peltz’s daughter Nicola’s wedding earlier this month to Brooklyn Beckham, the son of soccer superstar David Beckham and former pop star Victoria Beckham.

Manchin is up for reelection in 2024 but his stance against key elements of his party’s and Biden’s agenda has previously led to an infusion of campaign donations from a plethora of special interests, including those on Wall Street and Silicon Valley. With the Senate split 50-50, Democrats can’t pass much without Manchin’s support, which has become…