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

Skip to comments.

Choice of successor is up to DFL Party
St Paul Pioneer (de)Press ^ | 10/26/02 | HANK SHAW

Posted on 10/26/2002 7:32:05 AM PDT by Valin

It's unclear whether voters will see Sen. Paul Wellstone's name on the ballot Nov. 5. The Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party has until Fridayto choose a successor whose name will appear with the names of all other candidates for the U.S. Senate on a separate ballot.

A similar situation happened in 1990, when Republican John Grunseth dropped out of the governor's race in late October. Arne Carlson succeeded him on the ballot, the courts upheld it and Carlson was elected and went on to serve two terms.

But if the DFL does not nominate a candidate, Wellstone's name will remain on the ballot and Gov. Jesse Ventura could then choose a successor who will serve until 2004. Ventura can also appoint a short-term successor, but that person will not serve past January, when the new senator is sworn in. Such an appointee would take office after the state ratified the election results in the second week of November. Ventura said at a news conference Friday that he would not appoint himself, nor would he discuss a successor.

Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer said that absentee ballots that have already been mailed won't be changed, and absentee votes cast in the Senate race will not count — unless the voter casts a ballot in person on Election Day.

However, Minnesota law states, "Absentee ballots that have been mailed prior to the preparation of official supplemental ballots shall be counted in the same manner as if the vacancy had not occurred." That means an absentee vote cast for any Senate candidate would still be counted. If that vote were for Wellstone, it would be counted for the senator even though he is dead.

Attorney General Mike Hatch said Friday he believed state law is such that DFL leaders have to choose within the next seven days whether they will name a new candidate or go through the election without a Democrat on the ballot.

Other lawyers — notably Peter Wattson, counsel to the state Senate — said they read the same law to mean that if DFL leaders could not agree on a successor, or chose not to name one, Wellstone's name would remain on the ballot. Then, if Wellstone won, Ventura would name a successor, who would serve until a special election in 2003 or perhaps '04. Hatch strongly rejected that interpretation.

Kiffmeyer said more than 90,000 absentee ballots were cast four years ago.

Hank Shaw covers elections and money in politics. He can be reached at hshaw@pioneerpress.com or (651) 228-5257.


TOPICS: Politics/Elections; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: absenteeballot; wellstone
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next last
To: OldFriend
Just the little fact that the Senate may for brief shining time be controlled by REPUBLICANS was enough to give hope!

It may be, but it's difficult to picture a way that that happens. If Talent wins in November (an event that I believe became less likely yesterday) then the Republicans would have a numerical majority during any lame duck session, with or without Wellstone. If Talent loses, then the Democrats still have a numerical majority (49 + 1 to 49), unless Ventura appoints a Republican to finish Wellstone's term (an event that I consider extremely unlikely.) And I think Wellstone was probably going to win, but the odds of Coleman winning actually got longer yesterday. I don't see this event helping the Republicans at all, over any time span...

21 posted on 10/26/2002 8:55:41 AM PDT by Lyford
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: lawdude
They are completely ignoring the possibility that Coleman could win.

Typical Dem M.O. They are postive that is THEIR seat; now they're trying to figure out a way to get it done, legal or not.

22 posted on 10/26/2002 9:00:03 AM PDT by Howlin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Dataman
I suspect the surge was on the possibility of the Republicans regaining control of the Senate.

If the market wants the Republicans to control the Senate, why would it surge on news of Wellstone's death, an event that makes Republican control less likely? I don't think Coleman was going to beat Wellstone alive, but he's got no shot of beating him dead, whether it's his name or Humphrey's or Mondale's on the ballot.

Not only does this hurt the Republicans in Minnesota, it has a chance of significantly hurting the Republicans in Missouri, by kicking up the Carnahan-sympathy factor again. I just don't see any reason to think that Wellstone's death helps the Republicans in any way...

23 posted on 10/26/2002 9:01:02 AM PDT by Lyford
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: Valin
But if the DFL does not nominate a candidate, Wellstone's name will remain on the ballot and Gov. Jesse Ventura could then choose a successor who will serve until 2004. Ventura can also appoint a short-term successor, but that person will not serve past January, when the new senator is sworn in.

I think this is an incorrect reading of the statute. I believe that Wellstone's name cannot be on the ballot. The statute states that his name must be removed from the general ballot. The statute allows the Dem's to nominate a candidate and have his name placed on a supplement ballot. Also, the Wellstone absentee ballots cannot count for the replacement candidate, this is a definite disadvantage for the Dems.

24 posted on 10/26/2002 9:24:08 AM PDT by pchuck
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Valin; Howlin

The above seems to fly in the face of all the other sections of MN code I've read...... but the following is very interesting regarding the successor.....

http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/st02/204D/28.html

204D.28 United States senate vacancy; manner of filling. [excerpt]

Subd. 11. Temporary appointment. The governor may make a temporary appointment to fill any vacancy. An appointee shall hold office until a successor is elected and qualified at a special election or until a successor is elected pursuant to subdivision 12.

Subd. 12. Succession by regularly elected senator. An individual who is elected to the office of United States senator for a regular six-year term when the office is vacant or is filled by an individual appointed pursuant to subdivision 11, shall also succeed to the office for the remainder of the unexpired term.



Other sections ......

Minnesota Code..... .

204B.13 Vacancy in nomination.

Subd. 6. Vacancy after deadline. If a candidate withdraws after the 16th day before the general election but before four days before the general election, the secretary of state shall instruct the election judges to strike the name of the withdrawn candidate from the general election ballot and shall substitute no other candidate's name. Filing officers may not accept a nomination certificate for filing to fill a vacancy in nomination resulting from the filing of an affidavit of withdrawal by a candidate after the 14th day before the general election. Vacancies occurring through death or catastrophic illness after the 16th day before the general election are governed by section 204B.41. {bold my add}


204B.41 Vacancy in nomination; changing ballots.

When a vacancy in nomination occurs through the death or catastrophic illness of a candidate after the 16th day before the general election, the officer in charge of preparing the ballots shall prepare and distribute a sufficient number of separate paper ballots which shall be headed with the words "OFFICIAL SUPPLEMENTAL BALLOT." This ballot shall contain the title of the office for which the vacancy in nomination has been filled and the names of all the candidates nominated for that office. The ballot shall conform to the provisions governing the printing of other official ballots as far as practicable. The title of the office and the names of the candidates for that office shall be blotted out or stricken from the regular ballots by the election judges. The official supplemental ballot shall be given to each voter when the voter is given the regular ballot or is directed to the voting machine. Regular ballots shall not be changed nor shall official supplemental ballots be prepared as provided in this section during the three calendar days before an election. Absentee ballots that have been mailed prior to the preparation of official supplemental ballots shall be counted in the same manner as if the vacancy had not occurred. Official supplemental ballots shall not be mailed to absent voters to whom ballots were mailed before the official supplemental ballots were prepared. 204B.41


25 posted on 10/26/2002 9:27:04 AM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lyford
I don't think Coleman was going to beat Wellstone alive

You assume too much. Wellstone was polling at far less than 50%. Dick Morris correctly pointed out that an incumbent who polls less than 50% at this point in the race is in big trouble.

You may think Wellstone was in a position to win but his campaign was worried, special interest groups were worried and the Socialist Party was helping him out by encouraging voter fraud. I think he was worried and we will hear more about that later, especially if the fraud on the reservations (already uncovered in SD) is exposed.

26 posted on 10/26/2002 9:36:46 AM PDT by Dataman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Dataman
There is so much pending legislation that would have enhanced the economy.

Why the dems are not pounding this in ads is beyond me. There are thousands upon thousands of construction jobs waiting upon terrorism insurance........

Too bad that Trent Lott is so spineless.

27 posted on 10/26/2002 11:52:23 AM PDT by OldFriend
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: jackbill
So it was CNBC and not FNC.........the woman caller was so hatefilled I was inclined to doubt her every word.
28 posted on 10/26/2002 11:56:21 AM PDT by OldFriend
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Dataman
-- I don't think Coleman was going to beat Wellstone alive
You assume too much.

I'm not "assuming" anything. I'm expressing my opinion. I didn't expect Coleman to win in Minnesota. I expected Wellstone to win re-election.

Wellstone was polling at far less than 50%.

I don't think 46-47% is "far less" than 50%. Zogby had him at 41% in mid-September, in what looks like a bad poll, because he was 46-47% with a 3-9 point lead in the rest of the polls that I've seen.

Dick Morris correctly pointed out that an incumbent who polls less than 50% at this point in the race is in big trouble.

Obviously, as a general rule, an incumbent polling under 50% is in more trouble than one polling over 50%. But it's not an absolute that an incumbent under 50% two weeks out is going to lose. It's not an absolute that the undecided all go to the challenger. And Coleman's not an unknown. He failed to break 35% in the Governor's race 4 years ago. He's run statewide and lost. In my opinion, Wellstone would have won this race had he not died. We'll obviously never know, but that's my opinion on it.

29 posted on 10/26/2002 12:08:40 PM PDT by Lyford
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: deport
"Dude what is his age?"

I have seen it stated that neither son is over the age of 30, thereby negating their qualification for the Senate. In addition, I have not seen the press mention this possibility and were it possible, I am sure the lib-com-soc press would be promoting the selection to the max.
30 posted on 10/26/2002 1:56:50 PM PDT by lawdude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Dataman
" the Socialist Party was helping him out by encouraging voter fraud"

Wonder what they will do now. They just trained the voter fraud folks to read the Wellstone ballot. I doubt seriously they can be retrained to file a fraudulent ballot with some other candidate's name. I meant these purchased voters DO have limitations!!!

31 posted on 10/26/2002 2:02:12 PM PDT by lawdude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: lawdude
They are completely ignoring the possibility that Coleman could win. Even to the extent that, should he win, he will be taken out of office and a dem put in anyway??

Where are you getting that?

32 posted on 10/26/2002 2:12:20 PM PDT by mlo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: lawdude
Yes I've seen some posters claiming David is under 30 but no evidence presented to support their claims..... I've seen some articles using his name as a potential replacement... Here's one.

I don't personally believe that his son is a strong contender and the mention maybe nothing more than a test to see if it plays. I think it will be someone with statewide name recognition already....

33 posted on 10/26/2002 2:37:46 PM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: lawdude
Wonder what they will do now.

It depends on how lucky they feel.
A) Their plans have been made public,
B) so they can reasonably assume that our Republican Secretary of State will be watching for them therefore increasing the risk, which
C) if worth taking for Wellstone may not be worth taking for Mondale so
D) they are probably waiting for orders or have made plans to break some other law that doesn't involve a trip across the border.

34 posted on 10/26/2002 2:43:56 PM PDT by Dataman
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: deport
Isn't it weird that for months a candidate flies around to convince you that they are the better candidate, often pointing out the inexperience of their opponents. But then, said candidate dies and his party wants you to vote for a relative who had had NO experience in office. Tell me how this makes sense.
35 posted on 10/26/2002 2:47:26 PM PDT by Hildy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: lawdude
Another article listing the sons ages......

Whoops... they are both 30 or over according to this article and would qualify......

36 posted on 10/26/2002 2:56:12 PM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Lyford
The stock market saw the possibility of Republicans taking the Senate. In the same way that Daschle engineered a "coup", the Republicans now have that same opportunity. Unfortunately, Trent Lott has neither the brains, nor the backbone to succeed.
37 posted on 10/26/2002 2:56:20 PM PDT by spintreebob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Hildy

LOL... not necessarily supposed to make sense don'tcha see. The object is to control the office and not always with the most qualified candidate... Isn't politics grand?

38 posted on 10/26/2002 3:00:06 PM PDT by deport
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Dataman
Why dont the run Lautenberg? He's on a roll. :-)
39 posted on 10/26/2002 3:08:43 PM PDT by Don@VB
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: deport
"Wellstone's sons Paul Jr., 37, and Mark, 30"

I stand corrected. I wonder why the press is not pandering to them as we speak! I would thus speculate they are NOT AT ALL INTERESTED.

40 posted on 10/26/2002 3:51:52 PM PDT by lawdude
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-42 next 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