Kentucky Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear declined to say whether he would replace Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell with a Republican, as required by state law, should the octogenarian step down early amid apparent health problems.
Back in 2021, Kentucky Republicans overrode Beshear’s veto and passed legislation requiring Senate vacancies to be temporarily filled by someone with the same party affiliation as the outgoing senator.
The legislation has drawn renewed attention amid McConnell’s various health problems, such as his freezing incident last week, when the 81-year-old remained silent for about 30 seconds when asked by a reporter whether he would seek a six-year term again in 2026.
At the time the bill passed, Beshear argued it was unconstitutional. Last week, he was embarrassed about how he handled a hypothetical vacancy from McConnell.
“There is no Senate vacancy,” Beshear told reporters during a press conference Thursday. “Senator McConnell has said he will serve his term, and I believe him, so I’m not going to speculate on something that hasn’t happened and won’t happen.”
Andy Beshear is running for re-election in the 2023 off-cycle.AP
At the time the law — Senate Bill 228 — passed, Beshear argued it conflicted with the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave voters the right to vote directly for their senators, who were once appointed by the states.
“Thus, the bill upends a century ago by handing over the power to elect representatives of all Kentuckians to an unelected and unaccountable committee of an organization that represents only a fraction of Kentuckians,” Beshear said at the time of his veto.
SB 228 also sets parameters for special elections to fill Senate vacancies.
McConnell has three years left until his term expires, and the upper chamber currently has a wafer-thin 51 to 49 Democratic majority, meaning a hypothetical departure could dramatically change the balance of power in the Senate.
Several doctors have speculated Mitch McConnell’s freezing episode was caused by a partial seizure that may be related to his concussion.AP
In particular, Democrats find themselves in a defensive quandary heading into the 2024 cycle. They have to defend 20 seats plus three held by Democratic independents. Republicans only need to keep 11.
After McConnell’s second public freeze incident last Wednesday, Capitol Attending Physician Dr. Brian Monahan, said the 81-year-old was “medically clear to continue his schedule as planned.”
Back last week’s incident, in late July, McConnell froze for nearly 20 seconds mid-sentence, staring blankly at stone-faced reporters while mingling with the congressional press corps.
He’s had a handful of medical scares in recent months. On March 8, he fell at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in Washington and suffered a concussion and broken ribs.
“Occasional dizziness is not uncommon in concussion recovery and can also be expected from dehydration,” Monahan said in a statement released by McConnell’s office.
Last month, it was also revealed, that he also fell while disembarking a canceled flight at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in northern Virginia on July 14.
McConnell is the longest-serving Republican Senate leader, having led the caucus since 2007.
The Senate is now in August recess and will reconvene in Washington Sept. 5.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
