Former coal executive Don Blankenship, who faces a history of political losses and a prison sentence for mine safety violations, is running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate in West Virginia. His candidacy has raised concerns among Democrats, who fear his unpopularity could jeopardize their chances in a state that has become increasingly Republican in recent years. Blankenship argues that he is the true representative of West Virginians and that the Democratic Party has abandoned its traditional values. He faces competition in the primary from Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, who is endorsed by retiring Sen. Joe Manchin, and Marine veteran Zach Shrewsbury.