We hope the best for the Republican Senator from Wyoming...

[kentuck]

Senator Craig Thomas was re-elected to the Senate while in the hospital. He has been diagnosed with leukemia. As we know, this is a very serious disease. If the Senator had to resign because of health reasons, would the Governor of the state choose his successor? And is the Governor a Democrat?

[bowens43]

1. Let's hope it doesn't come that.

I wish him good health.

[TlalocW]

8. Well, I wish him good health as well

But I also think he needs to resign to concentrate on getting well and getting the most out of therapy. That way we would pick up one more senate seat and Lieberman would be neutered.

And yes, it's Machiavellian, but right now, I don't care. :)

TlalocW

[rosesaylavee]

2. I think the rule is that a Republican would

be chosen to serve in his place as that was the party that won the election. So, whoever is the most Senior Republican in Wyoming would select someone to serve out the term.

[Horse with no Name]

3. The Governor --who is a Democrat

will appoint a replacement. Those are the rules.

[warrens]

4. I doubt it

The governor usually gets to name a replacement.

[cali]

5. Decidedly not the rule.

Better to research things you don't know than make stuff up. The governor appoints a replacement, and the governor is a dem.

[rosesaylavee]

9. A bit snarky this am?

[Minnesota_Lib]

6. Ventura replaced Wellstone with an fellow Independant Party member

..so unless the rules are different from state to state, it appears to be at the Governor's pleasure (at least here in Minnesota).

[Jamastiene]

7. I wouldn't wish leukemia on the worst of my worst enemies.

I know what you mean there. I think the Governor is a Democrat, if I am not mistaken.

[AllegroRondo]

10. The Governor will appoint, but only for 2 years.

Similar to what happened in 2000 when Mel Carnahan died just before the election. The governor of Missouri (a Dem) appointed Carnahan's wife to the position, but at the next general election 2 years later, an election was held to fill the remaining 4 years of the term.