On Thursday, the Kentucky state legislature passed a bill that would alter the manner in which vacant U.S. Senate seats are filled, removing the governor’s ability to appoint a replacement and instead setting up a special election procedure to fill any vacancies.
According to Politico, the bill was introduced by Republicans but passed with bipartisan support, receiving large enough majorities that a veto by Governor Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) would most likely be overridden by the legislature. The legislation dictates that a list of three names will be submitted to the governor by the outgoing senator’s party, and that the governor must appoint one of those three names to hold the seat until a special election should take place. Both of Kentucky’s senators, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, are Republicans.
[Source.](https://amgreatness.com/2024/03/29/kentucky-legislature-passes-law-to-restrict-governors-ability-to-fill-senate-vacancies/)
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On Thursday, the Kentucky state legislature passed a bill that would alter the manner in which vacant U.S. Senate seats are filled, removing the governor’s ability to appoint a replacement and instead setting up a special election procedure to fill any vacancies.
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According to Politico, the bill was introduced by Republicans but passed with bipartisan support, receiving large enough majorities that a veto by Governor Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) would most likely be overridden by the legislature. The legislation dictates that a list of three names will be submitted to the governor by the outgoing senator’s party, and that the governor must appoint one of those three names to hold the seat until a special election should take place. Both of Kentucky’s senators, Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, are Republicans.
(post is archived)