Former coal CEO Don Blankenship is trying to win a U.S. Senate seat, this time as a Democrat
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Don Blankenship hasn’t had much success running for office.
He ran for the Senate as a Republican in 2018 and sought the White House in 2020 as a third party candidate. He lost badly both times but is on the ballot again in 2024, this time as a Democrat seeking the Senate seat being vacated by Joe Manchin.
Blankenship has plenty of baggage heading into the May 14 Democratic primary. Beyond his history of political losses, he’s perhaps best known in this coal-producing state as the former chief executive of Massey Energy who spent a year in federal prison for conspiring to violate mine safety laws before an explosion at his West Virginia coal mine killed 29 men in 2010.
With their threadbare Senate majority on the line in this year’s elections, Democrats are already pessimistic about their chances in West Virginia, where Manchin was the rare member of their party to find success in a state that Republican former President Donald Trump carried by nearly 39 percentage points in 2020. But a Blankenship victory in the primary could prove especially problematic for the party, leaving Democrats with an unpopular candidate with a complicated past in business and politics.
Related articles
- LOS ANGELES (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s first walk-off hit for the Los Angeles Dodgers was also his first2024-05-21
VOX POPULI: Scent of snow fills the air after Tokyo receives a wet, wintry mix
Many years ago, I received a New Year’s “nengajo” (greeting postcard) from a young man who had reloc2024-05-21Luke Littler's Premier League darts rival Michael van Gerwen, 34, says the 17
An unfiltered Michael van Gerwen slammed Luke Littler once again after beating the teenager in the f2024-05-21- Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here2024-05-21
Minnesota Uber and Lyft driver pay package beats deadline to win approval in Legislature
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A plan to boost pay for Uber and Lyft drivers in Minnesota that lawmakers bel2024-05-21Princess of Wales: Data watchdog 'assessing' Kate privacy breach claims
By Sean Seddon, BBC NewsThe Princess of Wales, pictured in November 2023. Photo: AFP / FRANK AUGSTEI2024-05-21
atest comment