Who will be appointed to Obama/Biden's Senate seats??

[RockaFowler]

How do these appointments occur?? Do the Governors of each state appoint?? Do they go to a special election?? Does anyone have any idea who is likely for each seat??

Just wondering . . .

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Governors appoint

and the appointed Senators serve for two years.

[Jackpine Radical]

2. I think that varies by state law.

[Dennis Donovan]

3. I think Beau Biden is PERFECT for his Dad's seat...

...and I'd really like to see Congressman Jessie Jackon Jr in Obama's seat.:thumbsup:

[Ozma]

4. It might happen.... any others in MD ready for the job?

Jessie Jackson Jr and Tammy Duckworth and the guy who is state Senate President in Ill can't remember his name...are all in the running for Ill.

[Ozma]

5. Sorry duped. n/t

[LynneSin]

12. I think it would be a very bad choice and here's why

Beau is being groomed for great things and maybe one day he'll run for the presidency.

But keep in mind (and I know this, I live in Delaware), Beau had a tough time winning his Attorney General position. Mainly going against him was his age and more importantly voters who felt he was being given the position because of his father. I think if he was appointed he might have a tough time come 2010. We may be a blue state but we easily re-elected republican Mike Castle to the house.

Beau will be our senator here in Delaware one day but I think Joe would want his son to win on his own merits and NOT because someone gave him the job.

[Dennis Donovan]

13. I dig what you're saying, but I'm partial to Beau...

;)

[AtomicKitten]

6. Rumor has it Jesse Jackson Jr. has his eye on Obama's seat.

[Starlight]

7. He'd be good.

[jobycom]

11. Christ almighty.

It's like waking up and still dreaming. :)

[LynneSin]

8. The sure bet here in Delaware is Lt. Governor Jim Carney

He lost out his primary race for governor to now Gov. elect Jack Markell. Personally I think Jim kinda tossed that race at the end in order to be free for Joe Biden's senate seat.

A couple of rumors have persisted. Some say that current Gov. Minner would appoint herself but Minner stated she's ready to retire from politics. The other rumor is that Beau Biden, son of Joe Biden, would get the seat. But I think that would be political suicide for Beau. Beau barely won his race for Attorney General here in DE simply because they thought there was a bit of nepotism involved. Plus if Beau is appointed he won't be able to serve for at least another 9 months since he is also currently serving over in Iraq.

I think Joe would love to have Beau be in the senate one day and perhaps win the one election that eluded Joe - which is the presidency. But I also think Joe would rather Beau win this one on his own instead of dampering his career by being appointed. It'll be interesting to see.

[jobycom]

10. Damn.

I was hoping they'd appoint you. :cry:

[jobycom]

9. Amendment XVII

Paragraph II: When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, that the legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

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It is up to the state to determine what to do, and some states leave it up to the executive of the state. Generally, a governor will appoint a replacement and then call a special election within a year. If the term has two years or less left, it is sometimes a judgment call whether to even call a special election. Varies by state.

In Texas, when Lloyd Bentsen became Secretary of Treasury under Clinton, Ann Richards appointed Bob Krueger as a replacement, then called a special election immediately. So Kay Bailey Hutchison and two dozen other people ran in the special election in May, forced a runoff with Krueger, then beat him in a runoff a month later. Then, two years later, she had to run for the regular election for that seat.

That's pretty normal. In Mississippi when Lott resigned mid year, a replacement was appointed, and a special election was run at the same time as the regular election, so that yesterday Mississippi voted for two senators--one special election, one regular term. Republicans won both, sadly.

Something similar will happen for these two seats.