Official said Blankenship can’t run for Senate

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) – The West Virginia secretary of state’s office has said convicted ex-coal baron Don Blankenship wouldn’t be permitted to run in the general election for U.S. Senate after losing the Republican primary.

The comments came before Monday’s announcement that Blankenship would run as a third-party candidate, with the Constitution Party.

Mike Queen is communications director for Secretary of State Mac Warner. Queen made the remarks for a story Saturday in the Charleston Gazette-Mail.

Queen says there’s no specific language code spelling out a “sore loser” law. He says his office would look to lawmakers’ “intent.”

He says: “The Secretary’s position is that Mr. Blankenship is not permitted to run again in the general election for the United States Senate. If Mr. Blankenship pursues the matter, he will most likely have to bring a legal action to force the Secretary to approve his candidacy.”

On Monday, the office referred questions to its lawyer, who didn’t immediately respond to questions.