I’m starting this thread for the inevitable speculation and discussion.
California has a good track record of female senators, so likely female? With the large Hispanic population in the state, and the growing Asian population, likely a person of color?
Thoughts?
Does the Governor of California appoint a new Senator, or will it be by special election?
He does, but there are some commentators calling for an election this time.
Here is an LA Times article posted a few minutes ago listing possible names.
Loretta Sanchez, probably. It was weird having to choose between two candidates for Senator in 2016 where I’d be happy with either one.
Sanchez would make sense, as the runner-up to Harris in the Senatorial election. Curiously, her name is not mentioned in the LA Times article. I would go with someone a tad younger, personally. Yes, if appointed, and then elected outright, she could serve for 20 years, but I’m more inclined to want to see younger faces in office.
California uses appointment that lasts until the next statewide general election. They do statewide elections in even numbered years. That would be a little over a two year appointment before an election for the seat in 2022.
One advantage of appointments is early seniority.
Who? And why?
I’ll be shocked if it’s Sanchez. She’s (a) not from the Bay area, (b) had the temerity to run against the California Democratic Party’s anointed one Harris and c) not from the Bay area.
Newsom’s buddy and Sec. of State Alex Padilla is the only Southern California I can see getting the nod, unless Newsom decides “gotta replace a black woman with a black woman” and goes with Karen Bass.
Columnist George Skelton calls for holding a special election.
The column is originally from the LA Times, but it is paywalled there, this is a reprint from the LA Times.
Bass would be an awful choice unless it’s strictly placeholder.
We’ve got a president who wants to suspend elections altogether until he feels like holding one, who is actively subverting the USPS to try to block postal voting selectively during a pandemic in areas where it would favor him; a long running Republican strategy of massive voter suppression, gerrymandering, seeking to undermine democracy in every way possible. And this is the issue he wants to focus on, this is where the voice of the people is being suppressed? Jesus Christ.
If I had to bet, I’d go with Xavier Becerra. California has a long history with female senators right now, so I feel like Newsom won’t think that he has to pick one to replace Harris. He could, of course - Katie Porter is my congresswoman and I’d be thrilled with her as the choice. But she’s only been in the House for 2 years.
Meanwhile, Newsom might feel a LOT of pressure to pick a Latinx person, and Becerra has a ton of experience.
I know it’s fun to try an predict…
I’m thinking that her replacement has got to be part of the whole process. I’d bet that Biden and Harris and Newsome have already had this conversation. This quote from that LA Times article
A spokesman for Newsom also said the governor wouldn’t even consider the possibilities until after the November election.
“It’s the furthest thing from his mind,”
seems highly unlikely to me.
Who it will be? I have no idea. But I’d bet that Newsome, Harris, and Biden have already narrowed it down, and will continue to have this discussion until it’s finalized.
I would love to see Ted Lieu or Katie Porter.
Harris’ seat is up in 2022 anyway, so the appointment would be for the remainder of the current term followed by an election for a full term.
This thread is kind of moot, isn’t it? Harris will still be Senator this time next year and we all know it.
We know many things, but that is not one of them.
Katie Porter, imho, has been the most impressive freshman congressperson, and I hope to vote for her someday in a statewide or national race, but I’m apprehensive at the prospect of putting that seat back up for grabs. That said, she’d be an excellent choice.
I’d love to see Schiff get the nod, unless he’s in the running for Biden’s AG (tho I’d like to see Sally Yates or Preet Bharara in that spot).
That’s going to be the trouble with guessing who will replace Kamala. The Biden administration will have a lot of positions to fill and California has a lot of skilled Democrats who qualify.
Anyone know the timeline? Once elected as vice president, how long would she remain in the senate? Once she leaves the senate, how long does the governor have to fill the office?