This just in from the United Mine Workers of America:

The West Virginia state council of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Coal Miners’ Political Action Committee (COMPAC) today voted to endorse W. Va. House of Delegates Speaker Rick Thompson for Governor in the upcoming May 14 special primary election.

“Speaker Thompson’s outstanding and long-term record of support for coal miners, our families and all working families in West Virginia convinced our members that he is the candidate most deserving of our support in this critical race,” UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said.

“It was a tough call,” Roberts said. “There are several well-qualified candidates in the race. But our members in West Virginia came to the conclusion that Speaker Thompson would be the candidate who would best serve working families in our state.

Roberts noted that Thompson has been rated by the West Virginia AFL-CIO as having a perfect voting record in support of working peoples’ issues while in the House, the first Speaker in West Virginia history to have such a record.

“This is a critical election for the future of West Virginia,” Roberts said. “We will do all we can to discuss this endorsement with our membership and their families, and work to get every one of them out to the polls on May 14. There is too much at stake to sit this one out.”