Don Blankenship

FILE - Former coal executive Don Blankenship waits outside the West Virginia Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, after the Capitol was evacuated due to a fire alarm in Charleston, W.Va. Blankenship filed paperwork Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, to run for the seat being vacated by West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, this time as a Democrat. (AP Photo/John Raby, File)

Ex-coal CEO Don Blankenship couldn’t win a Senate seat with the GOP. He’s trying now as a Democrat

Former West Virginia coal executive Don Blankenship has filed paperwork to run for Joe Manchin’s U.S. Senate seat.
 
FILE - The U.S. Supreme Court is seen, Oct. 5, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)

The Supreme Court rejects an appeal from former coal company CEO Don Blankenship

 
FILE - Former Massey CEO and West Virginia Republican Senatorial candidate, Don Blankenship, speaks during a town hall to kick off his campaign in Logan, W.Va., Jan. 18, 2018. A federal appeals court ruled Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, that Fox News, CNN and other major news outlets did not defame former coal executive Blankenship when they referred to him as a “felon” after he served a year in prison on a misdemeanor charge in connection with the worst U.S. mine disaster in decades. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)

Court: News outlets didn’t defame ex-coal CEO Blankenship

 
FILE - Former coal executive Don Blankenship waits outside the West Virginia Capitol on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018, after the Capitol was evacuated due to a fire alarm in Charleston, W.Va. Three reporters from a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper in West Virginia have been fired after publicly criticizing a now-removed video interview posted on their parent company's website with a former coal executive who was convicted of a safety violation in connection with the worst U.S. mine disaster in decades. (AP Photo/John Raby, File)

3 WVa reporters who condemned interview of ex-coal CEO fired

 
FILE - Don Blankenship listens to arguments in the West Virginia Supreme Court n Charleston, W.Va., Aug. 29, 2018. (Chris Dorst/Charleston Gazette-Mail via AP, File)

Supreme Court leaves Don Blankenship conviction in place

 

More News

FILE - In this April 9, 2019 file photo, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., speaks to reporters at the Capitol in Washington. McConnell's reelection campaign is capitalizing on a fellow Republican's attack, selling "Cocaine Mitch" shirts on his campaign's website. The shirts appear to have been hot sellers. The Kentucky Republican's campaign Twitter account said Wednesday, May 8 that McConnell was closing in on one of his biggest fund-raising days of the year and thanked people who chipped in by purchasing shirts. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

McConnell capitalizes on attack with ‘Cocaine Mitch’ shirts

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is capitalizing on a fellow Republican’s attack by selling “Cocaine Mitch” shirts on his campaign’s website.
 

Blankenship won’t go away quietly

Most West Virginians will never forget April 5, 2010, the date of the tragic Upper Big Branch mine explosion that took the lives of 29 coal miners.
 

W.Va. ousts GOP spoiler Blankenship from Senate race

West Virginia’s Supreme Court kicked a potential spoiler candidate off the ballot Wednesday in the state’s critical Senate race, ruling that he lost the GOP primary and can’t now run under another party’s banner.
 

Hurricane student to represent West Virginia at Boys Nation

HURRICANE — An incoming senior at Hurricane High School is getting a very early start on his political career.
 

Blankenship petitions for inclusion on general election ballot

The Herald-Dispatch

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. — Don Blankenship, following a failed Republican bid for a U.S.
 
FILE - In this May 8, 2018, file photo, former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship speaks to supporters in Charleston, W.Va. Despite having lost the Republican primary, convicted ex-coal baron Blankenship said he’s going to continue his bid for U.S. Senate as a third-party candidate. Blankenship’s campaign said in a news release Monday, May 21, that he’ll be running as a member of the Constitution Party, which nominated him by a unanimous vote. (AP Photo/Tyler Evert, File)

Ex-coal exec chases US Senate seat despite GOP primary loss

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Despite losing the Republican primary in a distant third place, convicted ex-coal baron Don Blankenship announced Monday that he will continue his bid for U.S.
 

Don Blankenship announces spoiler’s bid in West Virginia Senate race

Don Blankenship, who was defeated in his maverick bid for the Republican nomination to run for Senate in West Virginia, said Monday he’ll run as a third party candidate in November, tossing the race in turmoil.
 

Trump says ‘great night’ after ex-con loses WVa primary

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Republican voters rejected ex-convict Don Blankenship in a West Virginia Senate primary in which he sold himself as “Trumpier than Trump” but was vigorously opposed by Trump himself.
 

Things to know: National GOP exhales after W.Va. primary

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Key takeaways after voters in Indiana, North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia — all states won in 2016 by Donald Trump — picked nominees for Senate, House and some state offices ahead of the November general elections:
 
President Donald Trump shows a signed Presidential Memorandum after delivering a statement on the Iran nuclear deal from the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, Tuesday, May 8, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

10 Things to Know for Today

1. IRANIAN OFFICIALS LASH OUT AFTER US WITHDRAWAL
 

GOP outsiders in _ and out _ as primary season kicks off

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Republican voters rejected ex-convict Don Blankenship Tuesday in a West Virginia Senate primary in which he sold himself as “Trumpier than Trump” but was vigorously opposed by the president.
 

In W.Va., Blankenship defiant as Trump tweets against him

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A defiant Don Blankenship fired back Monday after President Donald Trump urged West Virginia voters to support opponents of the former coal executive — and former convict — in the Republican U.S.
 

Time has come for primary election predictions

How can we already be to the primary election? Time does fly when you’re having fun.

One of my weaknesses is that I insist on predicting the outcome of races BEFORE they are held.
 

Don Blankenship targets Mitch McConnell in West Virginia primary bid

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. With former President Barack Obama long gone from power and Republicans in full control of Congress, West Virginia’s Don Blankenship has picked a new face to represent the unpopular Washington political establishment: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
 

Ex-con candidate compounding GOP woes in West Virginia

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — Republican Don Blankenship doesn’t care if his party and his president don’t think he can beat Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin this fall.