Williamson, WV — Former coal executive Don Blankenship, a year since running for U.S. Senate, is officially a presidential candidate. Blankenship filed a statement of candidacy with the Federal Elections Commission on Thursday. Blankenship, whose committee is based in Williamson, is running for the Constitution Party’s nomination. Blankenship’s first statement as a presidential candidate criticized both major parties, citing the U.S. House of Representatives’ vote furthering the impeachment inquiry. All but two Democrats supported the resolution on Thursday, while all Republicans voted against the measure. Blankenship ran for U.S. Senate last year, finishing third in the Republican primary before attempting to get on the ballot as a candidate for the Constitution Party. Blankenship was released from prison in May 2017 after serving a year sentence for violating federal mine safety standards regarding the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion. Twenty-nine miners died in the 2010 incident.