From left, Don Blankenship, Evan Jenkins, Patrick Morrisey, Jack Newbrough and Tom Willis.

WHEELING — Six months ago, no one predicted the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate during the May 8 primary election would be anything but a two-man race between current U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.

No one except Don Blankenship, that is.

All three of the frontrunners, along with candidates Tom Willis and Jack Newbrough, will take the stage in Wheeling on Monday, April 23, for a U.S. Senate debate hosted by The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register. The event is set from 6:30-8 p.m. at Wheeling Jesuit University’s Troy Theater.

The public is invited to attend.

Recent polling data show Blankenship, a former coal mining magnate who spent time in federal prison, trending strongly against his primary opponents. A poll from earlier this year funded by the Jenkins campaign shows Jenkins in the lead, followed closely by Blankenship. A second poll funded by the Morrisey campaign has Morrisey leading, with Blankenship also a close second.

The winner of the GOP nomination for the Senate race likely will face current incumbent Sen. Joe Manchin, who does have opposition in the Democrat primary but is expected to easily win the nomination.

“We West Virginians like opportunities to ‘size up’ people running for public office. There’s nothing like an in-person forum, at which candidates answer sometimes tough questions on themselves and public policy, to make that happen,” said Executive Editor J. Michael Myer. “Senate candidates attending our forum are to be commended for taking the time to show area residents who they are, up close and personal. We’d also like to thank Wheeling Jesuit University for hosting our event.”

GOP candidate Bo Copley has not yet committed to the event.

Blankenship has been gaining most of the attention in the race, both for his outspoken views on Washington, his opponents and also on Sen. Manchin as well as his recent release from federal prison. He was acquitted on felony charges of lying about safety procedures at the Upper Big Branch mine in federal court in southern West Virginia after the deaths of 29 coal miners in 2010, but did serve a year in prison after being convicted on an unrelated misdemeanor count.

Refreshments will be served after the event.