Mitch McConnell Health Questions Raise Kentucky Senate Succession Issues
www.newsweek.com
Kentucky changed its Senate succession law, but the law leaves unanswered questions that could become important if McConnell cannot finish his term.

Mitch McConnell’s recent hospitalization has renewed scrutiny of what would happen if Kentucky’s longest-serving senator were unable to complete his term.

The speculation follows his recent hospitalization and limited information released by his office.

While there has been no indication that McConnell plans to resign, the episode has drawn attention to a major change Kentucky lawmakers made in 2024 to the state’s Senate vacancy laws. The legislation eliminated the governor’s ability to appoint a replacement senator and instead directed vacancies to be filled through a special election process.

  • adarza@lemmy.caEnglish
    3·
    56 minutes ago

    major change Kentucky lawmakers made in 2024 to the state’s Senate vacancy laws

    lemme guess. specifically because they don’t want their relatively popular 2-term democrat governor to name even a temporary replacement for the aging and ailing turtle.

  • ryrybang@lemmy.world
    12·
    3 hours ago

    While there has been no indication that McConnell plans to resign

    There’s no indication that McConnell is capable of making any plans for anything right now. Step one is proving he’s alive. Step two is proving he’s mentally capable. If neither is true, he needs to be impeached, like yesterday.

    • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
      7·
      2 hours ago

      Does he? The Republican majority in the Senate is 53-47 right now. McConnell holds the seat but can’t show up to vote on anything. He also can’t participate in his committees. He’s not an asset, he’s a hindrance to Republican goals. A Special Election would likely result in a fresh new young Republican who could move the evil agenda forward and who’d then be the incumbent for the next 40 years. Unless you think there’s such a groundswell of Democratic Socialism in Kentucky that you could flip the seat, but I have doubts.

      • disorderly@lemmy.world
        3·
        2 hours ago

        Maybe. McConnell is a lot more to the Republicans than a vote, he’s a beacon of soft power. Even the idea that he might return may be more valuable to them than some greenhorn state senator.

  • HazardousBanjo@lemmy.world
    2·
    2 hours ago

    I’ve been seeing people suggest this is a dry run for when Trump croaks, which seems plausible.

    I suppose it all depends on just how much JD Vance would be willing to sit out becoming president. The couch fucker might immediately expose it the moment the big beautiful day happens.