CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Despite losing the Republican primary in a distant third-place, convicted ex-coal baron Don Blankenship announced Monday that he will continue his bid for U.S. Senate as a third-party candidate, though it’s unclear if the move violates West Virginia’s “sore loser” law. Blankenship will run as a member of the Constitution Party, which nominated him by a unanimous vote, his campaign said in a news release. West Virginia secretary of state spokesman Steve Adams said Blankenship has officially switched his party affiliation to the Constitution Party.