Blankenship to attempt 3rd-party Senate run
Controversial former coal baron Don Blankenship said Monday that he is launching a third-party campaign for the Senate after losing in West Virginia’s Republican primary, a decision that could complicate the GOP’s efforts to keep its majority in the midterm elections.
Blankenship, who finished third in the Republican primary for Senate in West Virginia earlier this month, said in a statement that he has accepted the Constitution Party nomination. But he must convince state election officials that his campaign does not run afoul of a “sore loser” law barring candidates who lose in party primaries from later switching their party affiliation to get on the general election ballot, which could be a difficult challenge.
If Blankenship is able to do that, it would be a blow to the Republican nominee, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. Blankenship has the ability to attract some support from conservative voters that Morrisey is trying to consolidate behind his campaign.
“It is especially appropriate for me to be nominated by the Constitution Party given its staunch and uncompromising commitment to upholding the United States Constitution,” Blankenship said in a statement.
Blankenship served a year in prison for conspiring to violate mine safety and health standards after a 2010 underground explosion killed 29 miners.