I don’t know much about thesenator that died. He was probably fine gentleman. But I don’t understand why he was still on the ballot when he was not on this earth? Now, I understand that his wife is going to take his place? What’s up with that? What does she know about politics?
If the CEO of CocaCola dies, are we(stockholders) going to let his wife run the company?
This all seems to wacked out political movie plot to me?
I mean is this lady really going to sit in the senate and vote?
…although I’m too whipped right now to go search for the thread for you.
Mel Carnahan was the Democrat governor of my state who was running for Senator against incumbent John Ashcroft. He died in a plane crash past the date when his name could be taken off the ballot. It was too late to name another Democrat. Missouri law says in such a case the governor (unclear whether that would be interim governor Roger Wilson or incoming governor Bob Holden, both of whom are Democrats) can appoint someone to serve a 2-year term if the deceased candidate won. Carnahan beat Ashcroft (although I’m no longer a Democrat, that did my heart good–Ashcroft is, to paraphrase our next president “a major league a**hole”). Therefore the governor will apoint Mrs. Carnahan Senator and oh joy, we get to do this all over again in 2 years.
Although her views are unknown, I imagine she’ll be much like her husband–a little liberal for my taste but a good person who means well. She’s had a hard few weeks–no matter anyone’s politics, she shold be in our thoughts.
Oh Wild One. This is how most political positions work. The dead guys seat is really only a seat of power, and the fine but misguided people voting for the dead guy want to keep his political power in the same place by using his wife. And an answer for the second part of your question; Most CEO’s and heads of large companies pass down the reings to the family when they die, They might not know what the hell they are doing, but the power stays in the same place.
BTW, If you died today, could your wife (assuming your married) come in and take over your job? It shows ya just what a weak and unskilled job it is to be a politician! Any idiot can do it. You can’t say the same for most every other job out there, except power jobs.
because it was too late to change the ballot.
yes.
it’s a fairly established precedent, whether it makes any sense or not.
probably not much, not neccesarily an impediment.
probably not, but possibly. Anyway, speak for yourself. I’m not a CocaCola shareholder.
me too.
yes.
you’re welcome.
Mel Carnahan was the Democratic governor of Missouri, in his last term (MO has term limits) He decided he would try to run against Sen. John Ashcroft, the current senator. When he was flying to a campaign rally, the plane in which he, his son, and his campaign manager were flying, crashed (He took off in a storm, and, sadly, lost control of the plane). However, at the time he died, his name was already on the ballot, and the deadline for putting new names on the ballot or taking them off had passed.
When a senator dies, or resigns, or leaves office in the middle of his or her term, it is the responsibility of the governor to pick someone to serve as “interim senator” until an election can be held. Because Carnahan’s name was already on the ballot, the governor of Mo., Bob Holden (who became governor when Carnahan died…he was Lt. Governor) announced that, if Carnahan got enough votes to be elected, Holden would name Mrs. Carnahan as “interim senator”. Carnahan has won enough votes to win, and now we’ll have to see what happens. This is a controversial subject, and expect the Missouri GOP to file a lawsuit to get Carnahan’s votes invalidated.
Note to self…use the preview reply button…Palandine answered better than I could, and I did incorrectly identify Holden as Carnahan’s Lt. Gov.
As I understand it, the governor can appoint any qualified person. Picking the wife is a ploy to get someone with presumably the same sentiments and positions as the deceased. Given how my parents agree on their politics :rolleyes: , that plan is a sure bet.
There is, however, a precedent. Sonny Bono’s wife was appointed to his seat, too.
I don’t know if the governor could appoint the defeated candidate. (Wouldn’t that be something?)
The details don’t really matter.
Carnahan was running against Sen. John Ashcroft. Carnahan was a valid entry in the race and on the ballot. There a not a requirement to re-validate candidates at the close of an election.
Now, Ashcroft is the current Senator so the seat is not vacant. At the time the new Senate is to be sworn in, there will be this empty seat. It does not matter if Carnahan died and could not be seated, or if he won the lottery and decided to move to Bali. The empty seat is all that matters.
The governor, at that time, can pick anyone qualified to be a Senator, and say “sit there in that empty seat”. That person becomes Senator until the next election.
Note that, if Missouri had gotten a Republican governor, he could appoint Ashcroft back to the Senate, even after he lost the race.
Ashcroft announced that he is not going to challenge the results of the election. He would look like a real sore loser if he had. If Mel Carnahan were alive, he could do it. But it’s bad form to sue a ghost.
For the record, Mary Bono was not appointed to office. Representatives in California (and I believe every other state) are replaced by special elections.
“I mean is this lady really going to sit in the senate and vote?”
As far as anyone’s said so far (and the anyone that counts in this case is the acting governor of Missouri), yep.
This isn’t new by any stretch. IIRC, they were appointing the wives of dead senators and representatives to finish the terms of their husbands back before women could vote in national elections. The first women in Congress, back in the latter 19th Century, got there because their husbands died. There’s obvoiously no rule requiring it, but it seems to be a pretty stable tradition.
Hmmmmmph, learn something new everyday.
I shudder to think how old you’ll be when you die, Billy. 
Weren’t you paying attention to the news about three weeks ago when Carnahan died?
Just to add to the above explanation. The last such case in Congress was LA Rep. Hale Boggs, who is probably more famous nowadays as ABCNews’ Cokie Roberts’ father. He died on the same day as Carnahan, 28 years prior, before he won reëlection. The governor appointed his wife to take his spot, much like is happening in Missouri these days.
There was a very excellent and poignant interview of Mrs. Carnahan by Roberts on ABCNews this past weekend. (I also have to admit that Mrs. Carnahan’s “acceptance speech” that she phoned in to the governor’s supporters last night brought a tear to my eye.)