Louisiana Congressman switches to GOP

MSNBC ^ | 8-7-04 | Bill Haber / AP

[deport]

The Governor of no state appoints a replacement to the House of Representatives...... A Senator maybe appointed if the state Legislature gives the Executive the power to do so and only until an election can be held, but the appointment process is not provided to the House of Representatives...

From the Constitution, Article I, Section 2,

When vacancies happen in the Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.

From the Louisiana Election Code:

RS 18:1279

§1279. Vacancies; representatives in Congress

When a vacancy occurs in the office of representative in Congress, the governor shall determine the dates on which the special elections shall be held and the dates of the qualifying period and shall issue his proclamation ordering a special election and specifying the dates on which the primary and general elections will be held and the dates of the qualifying period for the election. Immediately thereafter he shall publish the proclamation in the official journal of each parish in which the election is to be held. Within twenty-four hours after issuing the proclamation, the governor shall send a copy of the proclamation to the secretary of state who shall within twenty-four hours of receipt of the information notify all election officials having any duty to perform in connection with a special election to fill such vacancy, including the parish boards of election supervisors for the parish or parishes in which the vacancy occurred. The election shall be conducted in the same manner and at the same places and the returns shall be certified as in regular congressional elections. If at a primary or general election in a congressional district one representative in Congress is to be elected for a full term and another to fill a vacancy, the ballots containing the names of the candidates shall, as a part of the title of the office, designate the term for which the candidates are respectively nominated.

Acts 1976, No. 697,§ 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978. Amended by Acts 1977, No. 545,§ 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1978; Acts 1980, No. 792,§ 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1981; Acts 1981, No. 76,§ 1, eff. June 26, 1981; Acts 1997, No. 1420,§ 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1998.

[Wonder Warthog]

Thanks for the info---I stand corrected.