This way of filling a Senate seat sounds strange to me
By John Welford
@indexer (4852)
Leicester, England
January 18, 2021 5:06am CST
It has been announced that Kamala Harris is due to resign her Senate seat prior to becoming Vice-President - nothing untoward there. However, I also read that the Senate vacancy will be filled by someone nominated by the Governor of Harris's state, namely California.
This seems strange to me, and somewhat un-democratic. Should there not be a by-election to fill the vacancy, given that Senators represent the people of a state and not the interests of the state's governor?
9 people like this
4 responses
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
18 Jan 21
And the state's governor is chosen by ... royal birth? draft lottery? doctor's appointment?
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21437)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
18 Jan 21
@indexer Why would people elect a governor whom they think would choose the WRONG person for senate?
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@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
18 Jan 21
@mythociate I think there are plenty of cases of people being elected to office who later prove to be unsuitable!
@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
18 Jan 21
OK - governors are elected, but should that give them the right to decide how other elective offices are filled?
There is the example of the former governor of Michigan who took it upon himself to declare invalid any election for state officials when he did not like the result!
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@kaylachan (57599)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Jan 21
Nothing seems to be going according to what we've learned in school. Of course, I would've thought states already filled their positions during the November election? And, when Haris becomes VP whoever's been elected would then take over? Isn't that usually how it works?
Unless they are appointing a temp due to the fact that She becomes VP in two days and even a bi-election takes time to organize?
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@kaylachan (57599)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
18 Jan 21
@myklj999 I love our country, but sometimes I think our forfathers should've given more direction when they wrote the constitution. There's no direction if each state can do as they please. But, as you pointed out in your post, this is California. They have always been... unique.
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@indexer (4852)
• Leicester, England
18 Jan 21
@myklj999 Thanks for the explanation. I can see why it might be thought necessary for a replacement Senator to be of the same political party as the person leaving, although it is interesting to see that this does not apply universally. It would have been fascinating if Harris had come from a state with a Republican governor who appointed a Republican replacement - that would have nullified the advantage won by the Democrats through their double win in Georgia!
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@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
18 Jan 21
ah you bring up an interesting argument!
1. shouldn't there be an election - takes 2-3 months to organize an election. then a month to certify and place the new senator. CA loses a voice in the Senate for 4 months in that case.
2, traditionally (most states0 Governors appoint the remainder of the term. in Georgia, it is only for one year until the next general election (ergo the GOP Losing the second senate seat).
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