General Discussion

unitedwethrive

(1,997 posts) Sat Mar 21, 2020, 09:21 PM Mar 2020

What is the process for filling a congressional seat in the event of a death?

My U.S. Congressman is quite ill and his staff was told that he may not make it through the night. I don't see this on any public forum, so don't want to name him for the sake of his family, but am curious as to what will happen to his seat. I'm in a blue state, so if the seat is filled by the governor, that would be okay. But I'm not sure if that is how it works for congress people. He ran unopposed in the primary, so there is no one obvious to quickly step in.

He is a good man, always responsive to his constituents, and I wish him and his family peace.

8 replies

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What is the process for filling a congressional seat in the event of a death? (Original Post) unitedwethrive Mar 2020 OP

AFAIK the governor fills the empty seat. dhol82 Mar 2020 #1

Governors cannot fill House vacancies under any circumstance. tritsofme Mar 2020 #4

Ok, just learned something. dhol82 Mar 2020 #5

House seats have to be filled by an election...... getagrip_already Mar 2020 #2

House seats stay vacant until an election can be held. It can be a special election, RockRaven Mar 2020 #3

Democratic Congressman in critical condition... PoliticAverse Mar 2020 #6

I think it depends on what state you are in MiniMe Mar 2020 #7

Poor guy has leukemia that is incurable. Diagnosed in 2016 jimfields33 Mar 2020 #8

dhol82

(9,353 posts)

1. AFAIK the governor fills the empty seat.

Reply to unitedwethrive (Original post)

Sat Mar 21, 2020, 09:22 PM

Mar 2020

Good thoughts for DeSaulnier.

tritsofme

(17,380 posts)

4. Governors cannot fill House vacancies under any circumstance.

Reply to dhol82 (Reply #1)

Sat Mar 21, 2020, 09:43 PM

Mar 2020

There must be a special election.

dhol82

(9,353 posts)

5. Ok, just learned something.

Reply to tritsofme (Reply #4)

Sat Mar 21, 2020, 09:44 PM

Mar 2020

Thanks.

getagrip_already

(14,764 posts)

2. House seats have to be filled by an election......

Reply to unitedwethrive (Original post)

Sat Mar 21, 2020, 09:27 PM

Mar 2020

They cannot be appointed like senators. It has to be an election.

RockRaven

(14,973 posts)

3. House seats stay vacant until an election can be held. It can be a special election,

Reply to unitedwethrive (Original post)

Sat Mar 21, 2020, 09:39 PM

Mar 2020

so it does not necessarily stay vacant for the remainder of the term. Since it is more than half a year until the next election, I would normally expect a special election. With covid-19, who knows what they'll do.

Also, the state party may need to draft somebody and thrust them forward into the spotlight as the presumptive front-runner, because now is a bad time for normal fundraising and campaigning activities...