[NonZeroSum]

Governor Mike Rounds is a Republican. If the senator dies, or has to step down for health reasons, it would give the Senate back to the pachyderms.

[ichabod1]

It would show a great deal of bipartisanship if he would appoint a democrat and not tip the balance of power as a result of a horrible tragedy.

[depressed in 06]

Depending on how serious, given a 6 months to year recovery, how does a 99 vote senate proceed? Does the VP make a difference?

[King of Florida]

Governor Mike Rounds is a Republican. If the senator dies, or has to step down for health reasons, it would give the Senate back to the pachyderms.

Not because of anything Governor Rounds did. Ever the curious one, I checked South Dakota law. A special election is supposed to be held between 80 and 90 days of the vacancy:

12-11-1. Special election to fill congressional vacancy--Time of election of representative. If a vacancy occurs in the office of a senator or representative in the United States Congress it shall be the duty of the Governor within ten days of the occurrence, to issue a proclamation setting the date of and calling for a special election for the purpose of filling such vacancy. If either a primary or general election is to be held within six months, an election to fill a vacancy in the office of representative in the United States Congress shall be held in conjunction with that election, otherwise the election shall be held not less than eighty nor more than ninety days after the vacancy occurs.

http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=12-11-1

[RetiredArmy]

You can bet your last Ruble that the dims will demand that he appoint a dimocrat since Johnson is a dimocrat, even though the law allows the governor to appoint whomever he desires and the dims have done the same thing in the past. But, watch. They will go absolutely ape s**t if he has to appoint and does appoint a republican. The MSM will go nuts, nuts, nuts, ballistic nuts.

[madison10]

Regardless of how this goes...the pachyderms had better shape up if given the chance. (as in, grow some spine for God's sake)

Hope Sen. Johnson will be well, especially at this time of year.