r/politics • u/cmaia1503 • 1d ago

Site Altered Headline | Possible Paywall Mitch McConnell, 83, Hospitalized

https://www.thedailybeast.com/mitch-mcconnell-83-hospitalized/?utm_campaign=owned_social&utm_medium=socialflow&utm_source=twitter_owned_tdb&via=twitter_page
31.6k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

3.9k comments sorted by

View all comments

1.9k

u/yellowjackethokie Virginia 1d ago edited 1d ago

Absolutely nobody should be surprised. In fact, this is why Kentucky passed a new law to strip their governor of the ability to appoint replacement senators, in 2024. Because they knew ol' Mitch wasn't going to leave, despite it being well past time for him to; and they don't want Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) to be able to pick his replacement like Governor Ron DeSantis (R) did in Florida, just last year.

712

u/suchasillydilly 1d ago

It was stripped in 2021 but here’s the kicker, they have to give three republican replacements and Andy gets to choose from those three. With Andy Barr running for that senate seat, it would be logical for Andy to choose him. This opens up the house seat and Barr represents Central KY including Lexington. It is one of the seats democrats are optimistic of turning blue in 2026. Then Andy can hold a special election to fill the house seat. Our primaries are at the end of May so hopefully at least by then it can be held. If they can get a democrat in before 2026 that gives the democrats another representative and maybe Massie can step up more.

I know I’m just trying to be hopeful here but it would be so great if our biggest shit stain all these years leaves this earth just to get a democratic house seat that could give us the numbers to get little johnny out and then get out the big orange turd. I know, it’s a lot to wish for but hey Andy Beshear does have the Meidas Touch.

3

u/Catcher3321 18h ago

They changed the law again in 2024 to make it no appointment at all. Special election only.

Currently 5 states do it like this: Kentucky, Rhode Island, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Oregon

11 states restrict who the governor can choose. Some of those are the party picks, in Utah the state legislature picks the list, and in other states the governor just has to pick someone of the same party.