Because Kentucky law says Beshear would have to call an election so a Republican would get in anyway. But that law might be unconstitutional from what I’ve read. But also is it a fight worth spending political capital and legal fees on when realistically it won’t change anything and there’ll be a new Republican Kentucky senator in 6 months?
Plus new Senators need to be sworn in which I’m sure if a dem won the special election the republican controlled senate would just simply not swear them in.
So I’ve heard this said before, but I don’t really get it.
Massie is a current Kentucky House representative, he lost his primary so his term will end in January.
McConnell’s seat is up for election in November, so his term also ends in January.
If a special election is held, it’s just to fill out his term until the end of January.
So in a scenario where a special election is held and Massie wins, he has to resign his House seat to take the Senate seat, but the term still ends in January.
The race for McConnell’s seat is already underway and the Republican nominee already picked. Additionally all other deadlines to run as an Independent have passed.
What? Now you’re combining 1) what would be the current race/appointment (because that’s debated) if McConnell was declared dead before Aug 3, and 2) the upcoming race in the midterms. That’s whole point of this shenanigan, the GOP doesn’t want race/appointment #1. Their thought process is that if Massie wins/is appointed in race #1, that will give him the “incumbent” advanage in race #2. Incumbent in scare quotes if you want.
And the election requires 63 days’ notice to the sheriffs in each county. And two elections a few weeks apart is going to annoy and confuse voters.
And (extrapolating the process for vacancies in primary elections) Beshear isn’t the one who formally recognizes McConnell’s absence for the purposes of the election; his Republican SoS is.
And if Beshear calls up an election without having properly verified only for McConnell to show real proof of life, the Democratic governor of a deeply red state with two more years left is going to have a scandal on his hands.
They’re basically asking Beshear to snatch a Democratic scandal from the jaws of a Republican one.
Why not replace McConnell anyways and let them prove otherwise?
Because Kentucky law says Beshear would have to call an election so a Republican would get in anyway. But that law might be unconstitutional from what I’ve read. But also is it a fight worth spending political capital and legal fees on when realistically it won’t change anything and there’ll be a new Republican Kentucky senator in 6 months?
Plus new Senators need to be sworn in which I’m sure if a dem won the special election the republican controlled senate would just simply not swear them in.
I thought special elections were trending less MAGA these days.
Its still Kentucky.
Which has a Democrat for a governor. Senators are up for statewide elections just like governors.
The reason they want to stop a Special Election, is in one of those Maise can run despite losing the Republican primary
He might not win, but he’d suck up enough votes from the other Republican to give it to a Dem
So I’ve heard this said before, but I don’t really get it.
Massie is a current Kentucky House representative, he lost his primary so his term will end in January.
McConnell’s seat is up for election in November, so his term also ends in January.
If a special election is held, it’s just to fill out his term until the end of January.
So in a scenario where a special election is held and Massie wins, he has to resign his House seat to take the Senate seat, but the term still ends in January.
Does that really change anything?
Thought is it may give him incumbent advantage.
He can’t be the incumbent.
The race for McConnell’s seat is already underway and the Republican nominee already picked. Additionally all other deadlines to run as an Independent have passed.
What? Now you’re combining 1) what would be the current race/appointment (because that’s debated) if McConnell was declared dead before Aug 3, and 2) the upcoming race in the midterms. That’s whole point of this shenanigan, the GOP doesn’t want race/appointment #1. Their thought process is that if Massie wins/is appointed in race #1, that will give him the “incumbent” advanage in race #2. Incumbent in scare quotes if you want.
Republican is a Republican is a Republican. The corpse is probably still a better option.
The corpse is basically in a permanent “present” vote, or even less then that? Because it can delay quorum?
McConnell’s absence is not affecting quorum, but it is one less R vote for as long as he’s out.
That law is unconstitutional. The Kentucky constitution says the governor can just appoint a replacement.
As I pointed out in another comment: the Kentucky Constitution does not say this.
Any vacancy not covered (which in the Kentucky Constitution’s case are city, town, county, district, State) is filled as “prescribed by law”.
And the election requires 63 days’ notice to the sheriffs in each county. And two elections a few weeks apart is going to annoy and confuse voters.
And (extrapolating the process for vacancies in primary elections) Beshear isn’t the one who formally recognizes McConnell’s absence for the purposes of the election; his Republican SoS is.
And if Beshear calls up an election without having properly verified only for McConnell to show real proof of life, the Democratic governor of a deeply red state with two more years left is going to have a scandal on his hands.
They’re basically asking Beshear to snatch a Democratic scandal from the jaws of a Republican one.
because hes bluemaga like all the parties that arent maga in america, its just a performative dance