If a Democratic senator is elected POTUS, who appoints their successor?

[RandySF]

Last edited Fri May 3, 2019, 01:38 PM - Edit history (1)

Bernie Sanders: Special Election.
Kamala Harris: Gavin Newsom (D)
Michael Bennett: Jared Polis (D)
Cory Booker: Phil Murphy (D)
Elizabeth Warren: Special election
Amy Klobacher: Tim Waltz (D)

[BillyBobBrilliant]

1. Governor

of the state.

[tymorial]

8. The OP knows. This is just a fairly obvious suggesting we should vote for Sanders

Because HE will be replaced by a Republican.

[bloom]

16. That would be NOT vote for Sanders... N/t

[Botany]

2. DU

n/t

[Indygram]

3. Bernie's seat could even go to a Republican when there is an election

Vermont politics are a strange mixture of some very liberal views and love of guns. For local/state offices, being perceived as anti-gun won't win. For presidential races it's less of a factor.

[honest.abe]

6. Another very good reason for Bernie to stay put as Senator.

We cannot afford a single lost seat.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. Funny how Mr "not a Democrat" always figures in to the calculations of Democrats obtaining...

.... or keeping a majority in the Senate.

[highplainsdem]

12. That's because Senator Not-A-Permanent-Democrat wants to be considered a Democrat at times and have

Democrats support him.

And yes, it is relevant that if Sanders gets the nomination and wins the GE, his Senate seat will go to a Republican.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

14. Yeah, he's only caucused with the Democrats for 28 years.

[Indygram]

21. I lived in Vermont for many years and I know VT politics

What I said is true. If Bernie's seat opens up it will most likely go to a Republican. Even though VT likes Democratic presidents and are very liberal on some issues...they are extremely pro gun.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

23. Well some pretend it wouldn't matter because he's not a Democrat.

You know it matters. I know it matters. And I suspect the people who pretend he doesn’t side with the Democrats know it matters.

[murielm99]

5. It is the governor in Illinois.

Remember all that scandal when our governor tried to sell Obama's seat?

[honest.abe]

7. Harris seat is safe.

Not sure about Warren's.

[tymorial]

9. Warren's seat will go to a Democrat. Scott Brown was a fluke and we dealt with him

Rather Warren dealt with him.

[honest.abe]

11. Yeah, that's what I was thinking but..

I have heard others on this board make comments about her seat being iffy. I was surprised to hear that.

[tymorial]

20. Massachusetts has certainly shown a propensity to vote for republican governors

However, Baker might as well be a unicorn. A Republican that works across the aisle, doesnt spew racist bullshit and manages to capture approval ratings from Democrats. A Republican taking Warren's seat would have to be similar in politics to Baker and as I said. Unicorn.

[onit2day]

29. Shouldn't even be a consideration when electing a president.

[tymorial]

32. Okay thanks.

[RandySF]

34. Primary voters can and should take whatever they choose into consideration.

[oldsoftie]

13. Once again, the focus should be on who can beat trump.

[MineralMan]

15. Joe Biden Isn't a Senator.

So, it won't matter.

[lamp_shade]

17. When did Sanders become a Democratic Senator?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

18. Anytime we've needed his vote for control in a closely divided Senate.

He even counted as a vote for us those few months we had a supermajority in The Senate.

There’s never a question he will vote for Democrats for Senate Leadership.

Funny how that works.

[True Blue American]

28. Except for gun control.

[RandySF]

35. So long as he seeks the Democratic nomination for president.

[FBaggins]

19. This is incorrect

VT used to have a system where the Gov replaces a senate vacancy (which Dean described as having a "tradition" of picking someone from the same party)... but now they just hold a special election within three months of the vacancy.

IOW - Phil Scott does not get to pick a replacement for Sanders.

https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/section/17/053/02621

[Indygram]

22. Even with a vote, his seat would still go to a Republican

Guns...and prior to Sanders it was a Republican held seat.

[FBaggins]

24. Oh please

They’ve been electing Bernie all these years but will pick a republican to replace him??

A republican like that Pat Leahy fellow, right?

That’s nonsense.

[Indygram]

26. Prior to Bernie it was a Republican held seat

Again...I lived in Vermont. But hey, think what you like.

[FBaggins]

36. Living there gives you special knowledge?

We aren’t discussing traffic along a certain back road you used to live on. US senators are not special local knowledgeable.

As a relevant example. Jim Jeffords caucused with Democrats from 2001 until Bernie replaced him in 2007.

It hasn’t been a republican held seat in almost twenty years.

But hey... you lived there. Let’s ignore reality some more:

[Indygram]

40. Someone who has lived there definitely knows more about Vermont than someone who hasn't

And Vermont is essentially all rural with a couple of large towns. It's not like larger states where there is a massive population urban area. The state capitol is puny. I've been all over Vermont and am familiar with all parts of it. Vermont politics is not about party...it's about the politician.

[Indygram]

44. I suggest you read this

https://www.thinkvermont.com/political-climate/

[Blue_true]

39. Jeffords was for all practical purposes near the end of his career, a democrat.

I don't think that the type of republican that wins everywhere else can win in Vermont. Most of the people living there live in or around Burlington or the state Capitol, rather thinly populated elsewhere.

[Indygram]

41. Montpelier is tiny and one of the smaller towns

Not much population there at all, actually. Burlington isn't all that big, either. White River Junction, Rutland, Brattleboro...all have more people than Montpelier. Don't blink when you drive through Montpelier or you'll miss it. I think even Newport has more people.

[Blue_true]

45. Okay, I have been to Burlington, it has large influence in that state.

Unless two or more of the places you mentioned are conservative, a republican that supports Trump or even modern republican policies won't win. The most dangerous republicans are the mild wolf in sheep's clothing there like the governor, but even if he won the seat, he would most likely be seriously out of step with the republican caucus in the Senate.

[Indygram]

46. This is where Vermont is very unique...there aren't "liberal" or "conservative" areas in Vermont

It's not about party, either. It's about things that matter specifically to Vermont. Guns REALLY, REALLY, REALLY matter in Vermont. This is why it's very common for Republicans to win. Once elected, if you don't betray Vermont and don't tick the voters off they will re-elect you. Tick them off and you're gone. If they don't trust you on guns you're not getting elected.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

25. How doe Patrick Leahy get elected for 40 plus years?

Not to mention Bernie Sanders and his votes for assault weapons bans?

[Indygram]

31. They got elected by being popular locally, not due to party or politics

Some info about Bernie's seat:

1988-2006 it was held by Jim Jeffords...a Republican
1972-1988 it was held by Robert Stafford...a Republica

Also, prior to Leahy...his seat was held mostly by Republicans too.

http://vtelectionarchive.sec.state.vt.us/elections/search/year_from:1914/year_to:2018/office_id:6/stage:General/show_details:1

[FBaggins]

37. Who knew so many Democratic national candidates had such extreme local popularity?

Must be why a republican presidential candidate hasn’t come within double digits of winning VT in over thirty years.

[Indygram]

42. Apparently you missed the part where I said the state votes Dem for president

and that it's foolish to assume that means state elections would be Democratic wins.

[sacto95834]

38. Jim Jeffords...

The guy who was a Republican who finally couldn't take them anymore and left the party to become "independent" and caucused with the Democrats??

[Indygram]

43. Yes, but he was first elected as Republican

He was re-elected because Vermont doesn't elect state politicians based on party. They knew him and liked him so they continued to vote for him.

I honestly don't know why some people are getting so worked up over what I'm saying. It's the truth. Vermont politics are not like politics in other places. It's why when civil unions passed you could get a civil union in a court house carrying a concealed firearm without a permit and it would be perfectly legal, lol.

[dsc]

27. In the case of Warren the Governor does get to appoint a very short term replacement

and you left off Gillibrand replaced by Cuomo a Democrat.

[Politicub]

30. This factors into my decision

And I'm glad you are featuring it. We can not afford to lose a single senate seat.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

33. Walz.