West Virginia official rejects Don Blankenship’s third-party Senate bid

Don Blankenship’s bid to appear on the Senate ballot as a third-party candidate has been denied by Mac Warner, West Virginia Secretary of State, who argues that the bit would violate the state's "sore loser" or "sour grapes" law, which says a candidate who lost in the primary is prohibited from launching a bid in the general election.

Why it matters: This is a win for Republicans seeking to secure enough votes against Democratic incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin in the general election this fall, as the decision helps prevent Blankenship supporters from placing their votes elsewhere.