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Governor of Kentucky needs to go visit Mitch.................... (Original Post) NGeorgian 11 hrs ago OP
Send Shady Vance instead! Diamond_Dog 11 hrs ago #1
Good idea! some_of_us_are_sane 11 hrs ago #2
A bolder response .... just begin the process of replacing Mitch. Make them prove it. cmmngrnd 10 hrs ago #3
KY removed governor's ability to replace a senator. LisaL 10 hrs ago #4
Then start the process. nt cmmngrnd 10 hrs ago #5
A more pragmatic take from lawyersgunsmoney cmmngrnd 5 hrs ago #6
It's a meaningless gesture Renew Deal 4 hrs ago #7

Diamond_Dog

(41,619 posts)
1. Send Shady Vance instead!
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 03:37 PM
11 hrs ago

He has such a good track record of visiting the gravely ill …..

cmmngrnd

(54 posts)
3. A bolder response .... just begin the process of replacing Mitch. Make them prove it.
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 04:35 PM
10 hrs ago

Not my idea, but grabs the initiative, forcing Republicans to respond.

LisaL

(48,267 posts)
4. KY removed governor's ability to replace a senator.
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 04:36 PM
10 hrs ago

So Beshear can not pick a new candidate. It would have to be a special election, or a regula election, depending on the timing.

cmmngrnd

(54 posts)
6. A more pragmatic take from lawyersgunsmoney
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 10:30 PM
5 hrs ago

Excerpted quotes from source:

"Long story short, a) there is no process for removing an incapacitated Senator, b) the McConnell family is under no obligation to talk publicly about his condition, and c) under Kentucky law Governor Beshear has no meaningful tools with which he can force the situation.
...
In this case, if Beshear were to renounce Kentucky law and simply nominate a Democrat, or if he were to call a special election without a declaration the McConnell is dead, he would likely be impeached by the Kentucky Assembly (simply majority, which they have) and convicted by the Kentucky Senate (two thirds majority, which they also have).

The upside here is simple and straightforward; if Mitch is incapacitated for the rest of his term then the GOP is down one vote in the Senate, which given the current composition of the chamber is a potentially consequential thing. By far the most likely outcome of Beshear calling a special election (if Mitch dies tomorrow) would be that Andy Barr becomes a US senator in advance of the November election, which is bad for literally everyone. Take the win, folks. "

The contributors on that site are generally worth reading, which is not the same as saying you will always agree with them.

Renew Deal

(85,524 posts)
7. It's a meaningless gesture
Fri Jul 10, 2026, 10:39 PM
4 hrs ago

He is a sitting senator. It would be an illegal act with no effect. They could just ignore him.

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