Franken's exit hands Dems another 2018 electoral headache
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Sen. Al Franken's announcement Thursday that he will resign sets off a scramble toward a special election in 2018 to finish the Minnesota Democrat's term, with former governor and one-time presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty seen as a top possibility for Republicans to cash in an unforeseen pickup chance.
Franken said he would step down "in the coming weeks" after a series of sexual misconduct allegations caused support in his own party to collapse. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton will appoint a replacement to serve until next year's election.
Franken's departure is a headache for Democrats, exposing another seat in a midterm election that already had them defending two dozen incumbents.
Republicans are eager to recapture a seat that Franken won in 2008 by a tiny margin and only after a monthslong recount. They're also hoping the sexual harassment scandal that engulfed Franken will saddle Democrats with enough baggage to help Republicans break through in 2018.
"A lot of the electoral momentum recently has been with Democrats, and I think Franken's resignation will provide a strong boost for Republicans in Minnesota in 2018," said Brian McClung, a former aide and longtime adviser to Pawlenty.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/frankens-exit-hands-dems-another-2018-electoral-headache/ar-BBGm3ke?li=BBnb7Kz&ocid=edgsp
= new reply since forum marked as read
