[Drew68]

That is the law. Passed over the governor’s veto I believe

Indeed it is.

Governor Beshear has signaled that intends to fight it if given the opportunity. This is why doddering old McConnell is staying put. The GOP can't risk Beshear winning his court battle.

[Political Junkie Too]

Democrats did a similar thing in Massachusetts when they thought that John Kerry would win in 2004 and Mitt Romney was governor. They passed a law that took away the governor's ability to appoint a replacement and mandated a special election to be held within 145-160 days of a vacancy.

Ironically, Kerry lost but Ted Kennedy died a few years later during Deval Patrick's administration and Republican Scott Brown won the special election.

-PJ