FILE - Former coal executive Don Blankenship waits outside the West Virginia Capitol, Aug. 29, 2018, in Charleston, W.Va. Blankenship, who lost in the 2018 U.S. Senate primary as a Republican, is running in the May 14 Democratic primary for the seat being vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin. (AP Photo/John Raby, File)
FILE - Former Massey CEO Don Blankenship speaks during a town hall to kick off his Republican U.S. Senate campaign in Logan, W.Va., Jan. 18, 2018. Blankenship is running in the May 14 primary as a Democrat for the seat being vacated by Sen. Joe Manchin. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
FILE - Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks during the Politics and Eggs event, Jan. 12, 2024, in Manchester, N.H. Manchin endorsed Glenn Elliott's, the mayor of Wheeling, on Monday, April 22, 2024, in the Democratic primary race for his seat representing deep-red West Virginia, where Manchin is currently the only Democrat holding statewide office. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott speaks during the 10th Annual Wheeling Police Department Law Enforcement Memorial ceremony at Wheeling Heritage Port in Wheeling, W.Va., on May 18, 2023. Outgoing U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin endorsed the on Monday, April, 22, 2024, in the Democratic primary race for his seat representing deep-red West Virginia, where Manchin is currently the only Democrat holding statewide office. (Eric Ayres/The Intelligencer via AP)