Blankenship Plans to Run for Senate in West Virginia

  • Former Massey Energy chief convicted for 2010 mine explosion
  • Blankenship enters crowded GOP primary to run against Manchin

Blankenship exits the Robert C. Byrd U.S. Courthouse in Charleston, West Virginia, on Dec. 3, 2015.

Photographer: Calvin Mattheis/Bloomberg

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Donald Blankenship, the former Massey Energy chief executive who went to prison in the wake of a 2010 mine explosion that killed 29, plans to run for the U.S. Senate from West Virginia.

Blankenship is filing election papers Tuesday to run as a Republican, Greg Thomas, a political consultant for him, said in a phone interview. Television station WCHS first reported news.