Former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship, who went to prison after a mine explosion, plans to run for the U.S. Senate seat in West Virginia held by Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, a spokesman said Wednesday.

The 67-year-old Blankenship was released from a federal prison in California in May after serving a one-year term related to the deadliest U.S. mine explosion in four decades. He is serving one year of supervised release. Blankenship was sentenced last year for a misdemeanor conviction of conspiring to violate federal mine safety standards at Massey’s Upper Big Branch Mine in southern West Virginia, where 29 workers died in a 2010 explosion.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected Blankenship’s bid to appeal. Blankenship has blamed Manchin for helping create the public sentiment against him.