Kentucky GOP lawmakers remove Democratic governor's role in filling US Senate vacancies
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Republican lawmakers in Kentucky on Friday removed the Democratic governor from any role filling future U.S. Senate vacancies — a move supporters said was unrelated to recent scrutiny about the health of the state’s senior senator, Republican leader Mitch McConnell.
The GOP supermajority Legislature easily overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto of the measure. The legislation calls for a special election to fill any Senate vacancy from the Bluegrass State. The special election winner would hold the seat for the remainder of the unexpired term.
“The people should decide who a United States senator is by election always,” House Majority Floor Leader Steven Rudy, a Republican and the bill’s lead sponsor, said during a brief House debate Friday.
The Senate succession bill moved through the Legislature at a time of pending transition for the 82-year-old McConnell. In February, the venerable Kentucky senator announced he will step down from his longtime Senate leadership position in November.
Related articles
Judges ask whether lawmakers could draw up new House map in time for this year's elections
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Federal judges who threw out a congressional election map giving Louisiana a seco2024-05-07Russia detains 3 more suspects involved in Moscow terror attack
Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has detained three more people for their alleged involvement2024-05-0716 black bear cubs rescued in Lao capital
Lao authorities rescued 16 black bear cubs in a building here and handed them over to a bear conserv2024-05-07Israel confirms killing of Hamas' deputy military commander
This photo released by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Jan. 23, 2024, shows Israeli troops conduc2024-05-07Can yogurt reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes?
Sharp-eyed grocery shoppers may notice new labels in the dairy aisle touting yogurt as way to reduce2024-05-07Giants rally with 3 runs in 7th to beat NL
MIAMI (AP) — Jung Hoo Lee had two hits, including a tying single in the seventh inning, and the San2024-05-07
atest comment