If a Senator is not able to serve should the Gov. appoint a member of...

[WI_DEM]

the same political party to take that Senator's place in the Senate? I think this is an interesting question and traditionally if a Senator has to leave office for some reason--such as incapacitation, death or taking on another job--the governor appoints a member of the party he or she represents, not necessarily the same party as the Senator who left office.

Case in point is the 1991 death of Republican Senator John Heinz of Pennsylvania in a plane crash. Democratic Governor Casey appointed Democrat Harris Wofford to take Heinz' place in the Senate.

Another case in point is after the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy of NY, Republican Governor Nelson Rockefeller appointed a Republican, Charles Goodell to fill Kennedy's seat.

I have been thinking about this for some time and my feeling is that the Governor, no matter what party they represent, should appoint somebody who represents the same political party that won the last Senate election to that vacancy. Under this reasoning, the GOP Governor of SD would, if need be, appoint a democrat to fill Johnson's seat. By the same token if Sen. Craig Thomas, who has been diagnosed with leukemia, suddenly leaves office, our Dem. Gov. of Wyoming should then appoint a Republican.

What do you think? Should the Governor appoint a member of his own political party to a open senate seat which was represented by a member of the opposing party?

[LaurenG]

1. He'll be there, nt

[WI_DEM]

4. that is not what this post is about

it is a general question which Senator Johnson's situtation has brought front and center. We all hope he will be there, but if he or any other Senator isn't, what is the best way to fill the vacancy.

[porphyrian]

2. Aren't there already rules for this, at the state level if not the federal? - n/t

[WI_DEM]

5. not necessarily

there are rules about when to hold a special election, but if a Governor has the right to appoint a replacement there are no iron clad rules about what party they represent. As the post suggests traditionally the governors appoint people from their own parties, not necessarily from the party that the senator represented.

[brentspeak]

3. In cases of health and personal tragedy, it should be required the replacement be from same party

In cases where a Senator resigns for non-health or non-family reasons -- say for corruption charges -- the governor should be able to appoint without restrictions.

[bufffbison]

6. truthfully the best way is to hold a special election.. imo nt

[WI_DEM]

7. you are probably correct about that

[tridim]

8. Something must be done, and it needs to be a federal law

Since there is obviously potential for abuse.

I wouldn't have said this before we all witnessed the attempted assassination of several Democrats in 2001 via the US Mail system.