# Election Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 17, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-question/37310 "2000-10-17T20:28:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mongrel\_8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@mongrel\_8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mongrel_8)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-question/37310/1 "2000-10-17T20:28:18Z")
With the loss of our Govenor Mel Carnahan recently, it leaves the Missouri senatorial race (where Carnahan was the democratic opponent) pretty much for the republican John Ashcroft. However, last Friday was the last day that the ballots could be changed so Carnahan’s name will still appear on the November ballot. What would happen if Carnahan won the election? ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-question/37310/2 "2000-10-17T20:35:44Z")
When a senator dies in office, the state either holds another election or appoints a replacement. My guess would be that they’d do one of those, depending on what the rule is in Missouri. ---
**Author:** ![troub](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troub/32/14802_2.png) [@troub](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/troub)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-question/37310/3 "2000-10-17T20:37:02Z")
I believe that if Carnahan still won the senate election, the Governor appoints a person to fill the position until the next general election. What seems to be unclear, though, is whether the “Governor” mentioned above is the current Lt. Governor (who is now the acting Governor), or the person who wins the current election. . . ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2000, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/election-question/37310/4 "2000-10-17T20:39:38Z")
If Carnahan wins, Acting Governor Wilson (a Democrat) would appoint the new Senator: [http://www.postnet.com/postnet/stories.nsf/News/528ECE5531365E298625697B005B8F66?OpenDocument&Headline=Carnahan’s%20name%20will%20remain%20on%20the%20ballot](http://www.postnet.com/postnet/stories.nsf/News/528ECE5531365E298625697B005B8F66?OpenDocument&Headline=Carnahan's%20name%20will%20remain%20on%20the%20ballot)