Candidates' Senate Seats

November 2, 2004 12:04 PM

What happens to John Kerry's and John Edwards's Senate seats if they win today?
posted by psmealey to law & government (13 comments total)

Edwards gave up his seat, so it will go to either Erskine Bowles or Richard Burr.
posted by Dean King at 12:07 PM on November 2, 2004

Argh, NO JINXING IT!!
posted by contessa at 12:15 PM on November 2, 2004

I ain't superstitious.
posted by psmealey at 12:16 PM on November 2, 2004

... I'm a Red Sox fan.
posted by psmealey at 12:17 PM on November 2, 2004

and I think Kerry's gets appointed--Barney Frank is in line for it : >
posted by amberglow at 12:22 PM on November 2, 2004

Kerry's seat does get appointed, but at the moment the Republican governor and the Democratic legislature are having a pissing match over who gets to make the appointment.
posted by briank at 12:26 PM on November 2, 2004

Damnit! Stop that.

*knocks on salt, throws wood over shoulder, then fingers a cross*
posted by drezdn at 12:26 PM on November 2, 2004

Amberglow, you're kidding, right? I'd love to see Frank filibuster, but something tells me he's rarely on Romney's good side...
posted by robocop is bleeding at 12:27 PM on November 2, 2004

Edwards did not run again, currently his seat is open. Either way he will not be a Senator anymore.

The MA legislature recently overrode Gov. Romney's veto, as such if Kerry takes the Oval Office the empty seat will be filled via special election. Favored in the race is Barney Frank.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 12:30 PM on November 2, 2004

It looks to me from Massachusetts Code Chapter 54 Section 140 a special election would be called to fill the vacancy.
posted by DevilsAdvocate at 12:31 PM on November 2, 2004

Favored in the race is Barney Frank.

Barney Frank and Tom Coburn in the Senate at the same time? Should be grounds for hilarity.
posted by PrinceValium at 12:41 PM on November 2, 2004

According this AP story, Kerry's seat will be vacant until a successor is elected. This contradicts earlier answers in this thread but the article seems pretty clear.
posted by stuart_s at 8:53 PM on November 2, 2004

Edwards's seat has been called by CNN, NBC and Fox for Richard Burr. Sorry, Dems.
posted by Dreama at 11:10 PM on November 2, 2004