West Virginia U.S. Senate Results: Blankenship Out, Morrisey In

CHARLESTON, WV — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey has won the GOP nomination and will take on Democratic incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin in November. The Associated Press called the race around 10:20 p.m. Tuesday.

When the polls closed in West Virginia, America eagerly awaited to see whether voters would embrace or reject Don Blankenship, the ex-convict and coal baron, who was denounced by President Donald Trump just a day before the state's primary. Blankenship, who had cast himself as an outsider who was even "Trumpier than Trump," has conceded defeat, CNN reported. Blankenship was projected to finish in third, behind Morrisey and U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins.

"We are conceding the election,"Blankenship said.

"It didn't work out," he added.

Blankenship said that although he didn't know where things went awry, Trump's tweet played a pivotal role.

On the Democratic side, Manchin was declared the winner over challenger Paula Jean Swearengin. The Associated Press and others called that race less than an hour after polls closed.

Scroll to the bottom of this page for vote totals.

West Virginia's U.S. Senate race is key for the GOP, which seeks to keep or grow its slim majority in the chamber.

At the urging of Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Trump denounced Blankenship and pleaded with voters to cast their ballots for Jenkins or Morrisey. Trump specifically cited Alabama — where Republican candidate Roy Moore was defeated by Democratic candidate Doug Jones — as an example of what can happen if they choose the wrong candidate in the primary.

"To the great people of West Virginia we have, together, a really great chance to keep making a big difference," Trump tweeted on Monday. "Problem is, Don Blankenship, currently running for Senate, can’t win the General Election in your State...No way! Remember Alabama. Vote Rep. Jenkins or A.G. Morrisey!"

Blankenship, the former chief executive of Massey Energy, was convicted of plotting to violate mine safety rules in the 2010 Upper Big Branch mining explosion. Twenty-nine workers were killed in the blast and Blankenship had to serve a year in federal prison.

In all, 26 Democrats and Republicans are running for Congress in the state. Eight will formally receive their party’s nomination for the general election.

For the U.S. House of Representatives elections, two Republican incumbents are running unopposed.

Talley Sergent won the U.S. House 2nd District Democratic primary, AP reported. She was the state presidential campaign director for Hillary Clinton in 2016.

All 100 House of Delegates seats were also up for grabs, along with 17 of the 34 seats in the state Senate.

Locally, Charleston voters will pick one of two Democrats for to run for mayor in November, as well as vote to fill several city council seats. Former state tourism commissioner Amy Goodwin and current councilman Andy Richardson seek the Democratic nomination for mayor. Republican J.B. Akers is running unopposed.

A dozen Democratic candidates are running for at-large City Council seats and only six will be chosen Tuesday.

See also: West Virginia Primary: What You Need To Know