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 ...
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.
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.
Kid Rock is in Michigan.
I think the Gov will appoint Ellison and he’d be hard to beat, being the first Muzzie elected to Congress and all.
Dayton’s pick will be another box of rocks, liberal woman.
Possibly a black, handicapped, lesbian, if he can find one.
If Moore wins l bet Franken doesn’t quit.
HEAR! HEAR!
I appreciate your thinking, especially over this hot uttered rum I am drinking - cheers, sir!
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’
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.
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.
Yep. A non-apology apology joined with a non-resigning resigning.
Put Bannon The Magnificent on it and it’s a done deal.
L
Pawlenty is Susan Collins only without the testicles.
He’s not resigning...
Waiting for the other shoe to drop with the election of Roy Moore.
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?
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?
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....
Agree....thats fine cause we have visual confirmation of frankens behaviour...but 40 year old allegations against Moore....so either way franken is done....
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