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[…] sentatives with one less Democrat, and New Jersey with one less representative, for 2024. Dr. Steven Taylor has analysis of this weird decision. My […]
Pingback by Hunh? at blog.matthewstinson.net — Tuesday, January 31, 2024 @ 4:46 pm
Absolutely, governors have no authority to make appoinments for vacancies in the House–or even to nominate candiadtes. Presumably they would not be given unilateral appointment powers under any circumstances, which raises the question of who would be empowered to confirm their nominees, if they had even that authority? For senate vacancies, the provision that the governor nominates, state legislature confirms at least involves a representative body that cover the whole territory that the senator would represent. But there is no such body for a House seat (except in states with only one member).
The provision on senate replacement is, of course, a vestige of when Senators were simply elected by the state legislature. Which leads me to a question: Why are governors allowed to initiate a nomination for a vacancy? Why involve the state executive at all?
It seems to me that there should be requirements for special elections for Senate vacancies, too. But, with or without a special election, the seat should be filled in the interim by a candidate chosen by the legislature, without any role for the governor.
What to do when the time is short before the regularly scheduled election is an interesting one. Having a special election the same year as a regular election makes little sense to me. Then you get bizarre scenarios like California’s 50th, where the runoff for the special election will be the same day as the primary for the regular November election (as I have blogged about rather extensively). That troubles me somewhat more than simply leaving the seat vacant until next January.
Of course, if we did not have this archaic electoral system, by-elections (special elections) would not be necessary, but that’s another topic. This comment is long enough already!
Comment by Matthew — Tuesday, January 31, 2024 @ 6:30 pm
The Knucklehead of the Day award
Today’s winner is New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine
Trackback by The Florida Masochist — Wednesday, February 1, 2024 @ 8:52 am