KY-SEN: Kentucky law requires special election to fill vacant U.S. Senate seat, not appointment

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) – Kentucky has a plan if it suddenly loses a U.S. senator — but that plan has changed significantly in recent years, and questions remain about how it would work in practice.

The state updated its U.S. Senate succession law in 2024, eliminating the option for a temporary appointment and instead requiring the governor to call a special election if a seat becomes vacant. Until that election takes place, Kentucky would have only one sitting U.S. senator.

The change came after an earlier update in 2021 that shifted appointment power away from the governor. Under that version of the law, the former senator’s party would submit a list of recommended candidates, and the governor would choose from that list. The 2024 revision went further, removing the appointment process entirely.

Rep. Steven Rudy, the Republican sponsor of the 2024 bill, said the decision is best left to voters.




https://www.wtvq.com/kentucky-law-requires-special-election-to-fill-vacant-u-s-senate-seat-not-appointment/