Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Franken exit could be game-changer for control of Senate
NBC ^ | 7 Dec 2017 | JONATHAN ALLEN

Posted on 12/07/2017 2:19:29 PM PST by mandaladon

WASHINGTON — Republicans may have just gotten another layer of armor to defend their Senate majority.

Sen. Al Franken's seat wasn't supposed to be up again until 2020. But his announcement Thursday that he was resigning amid allegations of sexual misconduct sets up a 2018 special election in Minnesota. And Republicans, who hold a 52-48 majority, are now on the hunt for a top-tier candidate in a politically competitive state where President Donald Trump lost by less than 2 percentage points last year.

The unexpected opportunity could be a "total game-changer in terms of control of the Senate," said Republican strategist Alex Conant, a Minnesota native who worked in communications roles for the Republican National Committee and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty's 2012 presidential campaign. "If," he added, "we field a strong candidate."

Pawlenty, 57, is the dream candidate for the GOP, particularly after former Sen. Norm Coleman, who lost his seat to Franken by a few hundred votes in 2008, said Thursday that he won't run. Pawlenty currently serves as CEO of the Financial Services Roundtable, a Washington lobbying group, and is considered a good bet to raise a lot of money quickly. There was no word from him Thursday.

"Everybody in Minnesota on the Republican side is extremely eager to hear from Tim Pawlenty," said Josh Holmes, a Republican strategist and former chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and who is from Minnesota. "He would be a spectacular candidate if he would consider it."

Holmes added that Franken's early departure "shifts the landscape" for control of the Senate.

The counterweight for would-be Republican hopefuls is the expectation that they would be running into a headwind in the first midterm of Trump's presidency.

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: 2018midterms; franken; minnesota; mn2018; pawlenty; trump
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-40 last

Gov. Mark Dayton would appoint a new senator to fill Franken’s seat, when he resigns, Ryan Furlong, a spokesman for the Minnesota secretary of state’s office, told Fox News.

A Democrat, Minnesotans could expect Dayton to appoint a member of his own party.

The newly-appointed senator would be in office until at least Nov. 2018 when a special election would be scheduled. The appointed senator would not be obligated to run in that election.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/12/07/al-franken-announces-will-resign-heres-what-happens-to-his-senate-seat.html


21 posted on 12/07/2017 3:06:25 PM PST by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mandaladon

22 posted on 12/07/2017 3:10:36 PM PST by Bobalu (Build the Wall. Deport them ALL)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: drypowder

If Moore wins Frankin will stay

************

He’ll stay long enough for the Gov to get things in order for an appointment.
He’ll appoint a democrat with the replacement election to be held in Nov. 2018.
How that figures into the appointee I don’t know.


23 posted on 12/07/2017 3:11:41 PM PST by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: CJ Wolf

Kid Rock is in Michigan.


24 posted on 12/07/2017 3:12:23 PM PST by Atlantan
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: mandaladon

I think the Gov will appoint Ellison and he’d be hard to beat, being the first Muzzie elected to Congress and all.


25 posted on 12/07/2017 3:20:36 PM PST by weston (SO HERE'S THE STORY: As far as I'm concerned, it's Christ or nothing!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mandaladon

Dayton’s pick will be another box of rocks, liberal woman.
Possibly a black, handicapped, lesbian, if he can find one.


26 posted on 12/07/2017 3:28:53 PM PST by Fireone (Lock Her Up! (and 100 of her accomplices))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: gibsonguy

If Moore wins l bet Franken doesn’t quit.

HEAR! HEAR!


27 posted on 12/07/2017 3:41:42 PM PST by DUMBGRUNT (This Space for Rent)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: edh

I appreciate your thinking, especially over this hot uttered rum I am drinking - cheers, sir!


28 posted on 12/07/2017 3:44:24 PM PST by Caipirabob (Communists...Socialists...Fascists & AntiFa...Democrats...Traitors... Who can tell the difference?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: ichabod1

Fwiw, Ben Shapiro agrees with you. [Speaking for myself, I don’t trust Shapiro’s analysis. He was too unhinged a never-Trumper.]

‘Shapiro: Al Franken Might Not Leave Senate If GOP Seats Roy Moore’

http://insider.foxnews.com/2017/12/07/shapiro-al-franken-might-not-leave-senate-if-gop-seats-roy-moore


29 posted on 12/07/2017 3:45:02 PM PST by Fantasywriter (Any attempt to do forensic work using Internet artifacts is fraught with pitfalls. JoeProbono)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Atlantan

I know, he said he wasn’t running for senator of Michigan. He likes to fish in Minnesota and might want to buy some property there.


30 posted on 12/07/2017 3:48:18 PM PST by CJ Wolf (It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Atlantan

Plus you only need to be a resident for 30 days prior to registering.

United States Senator
must be an inhabitant of Minnesota when elected
must be at least 30 years old upon assuming office
must be a citizen of the United States for at least nine years upon assuming office.

Easy win. Plus he comes with his own sex tape.


31 posted on 12/07/2017 3:51:00 PM PST by CJ Wolf (It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: weston
Because muzzies are so popularity...
32 posted on 12/07/2017 4:23:16 PM PST by Magnum44 (My comprehensive terrorism plan: Hunt them down and kill them)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: ichabod1
He’s resigning before he’s not resigning.

Yep. A non-apology apology joined with a non-resigning resigning.

33 posted on 12/07/2017 4:32:00 PM PST by NutsOnYew (If the world was perfect, it wouldn't be.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: mandaladon

Put Bannon The Magnificent on it and it’s a done deal.

L


34 posted on 12/07/2017 4:33:16 PM PST by Lurker (President Trump isn't our last chance. President Trump is THEIR last chance.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: mandaladon

Pawlenty is Susan Collins only without the testicles.


35 posted on 12/07/2017 4:36:10 PM PST by Fightin Whitey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ichabod1

He’s not resigning...

Waiting for the other shoe to drop with the election of Roy Moore.


36 posted on 12/07/2017 4:46:46 PM PST by DefeatCorruption
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: mandaladon

Bachmann would be great. I don’t know if Michele wants to come back to Washington.

A lot of conservatives would like to see Sue Jeffers run. She’d be great, but does he have enough name ID?


37 posted on 12/07/2017 5:53:47 PM PST by TBP (Progressives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HamiltonJay

It is possible that Gov. Dayton would appoint a placeholder who would not run in the special election, but I don’t think it’s likely.

Alan Page, perhaps?


38 posted on 12/07/2017 5:55:51 PM PST by TBP (Progressives lack compassion and tolerance. Their self-aggrandizement is all that matters.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: mandaladon

Won’t actually resign until the fix was in - wonder what Chucky Schmoooooozer threatened him with to get him to make the statement and use it as a platform to bitch about Trump and Moore - all choreographed and must be some real fear involved as far as their well-being if they don’t cooperate....


39 posted on 12/08/2017 4:19:22 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: drypowder

Agree....thats fine cause we have visual confirmation of frankens behaviour...but 40 year old allegations against Moore....so either way franken is done....


40 posted on 12/08/2017 10:44:28 AM PST by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and diamonds, and harder to find)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-40 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson