Franken resignation could upend Minnesota races

[DonViejo]

BY BEN KAMISAR - 12/06/17 04:08 PM EST

-snip-

State law dictates that Minnesota's governor, Democrat Mark Dayton, must appoint a candidate who will serve until the 2018 elections. At that point, there’d be a special election to determine who would serve the final two years of Franken’s term before another election in 2020 for a full six-year term.

That outcome would roil what’s already slated to be a raucous election year for Minnesota politics. Next year, the state will see competitive elections for governor, attorney general and two state Senate seats, as well as a high-profile battle for control of the state House.

Dayton would have an interesting choice in front of him if he has to pick a replacement for Franken: he could either appoint a caretaker to hold the seat who has no interest in running in 2018, or boost a candidate that he favors to win the special election. He also could be under pressure to appoint a woman to the post, given the fallout over Franken.

Democrats in the state can draw on a deep bench, including a handful of candidates running for governor, from which Dayton could draw his pick. His choice could have significant implications on both the gubernatorial race and the futures of the state’s top Democrats.

Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) is already emerging as the frontrunner in the governor’s race. So a Franken departure could open the door for other gubernatorial candidates, including state auditor Rebecca Otto, state Rep. Erin Murphy and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, to transition their statewide campaign operations to running to replace Franken.

State Attorney General Lori Swanson (D), who has served in that spot for a decade, is still weighing a gubernatorial bid of her own. A Franken resignation could change her calculus and make her a top candidate for the seat too.

Then there's Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), the high-profile progressive who is a close confidante of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and serves as the DNC's vice chair. Ellison has a strong fundraising and support network, thanks to his bid as the progressive pick to lead the DNC earlier this year, but his office did not respond to questions as to whether he'd consider a bid.

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/363619-franken-resignation-could-upend-minnesota-races

[octoberlib]

1. So there would be a special election called next year. Now I see why the R's wanted Franken out so

bad. They think they have a chance to pick up a seat in Minnesota.

[Yavin4]

2. And there's a great chance that they will get it.

A great chance.

[mn9driver]

11. Agree. A Franken resignation will hand the seat to a Republican.

I don’t see people turning out in a midterm election for any of the suggested replacements the way they would turn out for Al.

[Yavin4]

12. Folks forget that it took a recount for him to win it.

MN is not a solid blue state.

[Blue_true]

3. They will face a deep bench of top flight Democrats.

I saw the names of something like four high profile women in the article, two already hold statewide office. Dayton would be wise to appoint one of the two statewide office holders.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. Dayton should appoint himself and say as a former governor he can hit the ground running.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. That's happened here before. It didn't work out well.

After U.S. Senator Walter Mondale was elected vice president in 1976, the governor needed to appoint Mondale's successor. Anderson agreed with his lieutenant governor, Rudy Perpich, that Anderson would resign as governor, and Perpich, as the new governor, would appoint Anderson senator.

In what became known as the "Minnesota Massacre", nearly the entire DFL Party ticket was defeated in 1978, including Perpich and the candidates for both U.S. Senate seats, Anderson and Bob Short. Anderson's arrangement to have himself appointed to the Senate—and Perpich's role in that appointment—were deemed central factors in the defeats.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendell_Anderson

[kcr]

4. Yep. This is why those who think this is No biggie! Dem can just appoint another! are so wrong.

At the very least Dems should wait for the investigation. This is such a stupid move.

[underpants]

7. Minnesota Senate races tend to be quite close

Franken only beat Norm Coleman by 312 votes and that was during Obama's sweeping win.

[Initech]

5. That's the plan.

The GOP and the Christian right is currently fueled by extra strength hatred. They are out to wipe out our very existence. Fuck, they would kill us or put us all in prison if given the opportunity. And they probably could since they own about 95% of the media currently and they can say whatever they want against the opposition. Franken is expendable to them.

[BannonsLiver]

8. The GOP will end up with the seat. You can see it coming from a mile away.

[crazycatlady]

10. I'd love to see a woman take his place

Do the MN dems have one on their bench?