Massachusetts Election Set for January 19, 2010
August 31st, 2009Massachusetts will hold a special election to fill its vacant U.S. Senate seat on January 19, 2010. The three qualified parties (Democratic, Republican and Libertarian) nominate by primary, and that primary will be on December 8, 2009.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:16 pm
I want to know if the Mass governor has law changed for interim senator is it possible to have a referendum to overturn the law? Aren’t all bills subject to veto referendum?
August 31st, 2009 at 4:19 pm
In most states, referenda (if allowed in that state at all) don’t apply to all bills. It is typical for state constitutions to say that referenda don’t apply in emergency situations, for example, and there may be other exceptions.
August 31st, 2009 at 4:26 pm
is a December primary a legal obligation too? or did they just decide to not hold a primary election on November 3rd (the same day as municipal general elections)?
August 31st, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Obviously this power play by the Dems is changing the rules while the game is played. The law is to go into effect when a vacancy occurs. Vacancy has occurred and law must be implemented. Finally even if the bill gets signed by Gov., the bill is something that long lasting and has ramifications not just on Kennedy’s opening but any openings in the future. I think this smells of the worst politics.
Much like the Blagojevich appointment of Burris, the legislature couldn’t stop the law from being implemented once the vacancy occurred. As much as the Republicans wanted an election, the law had to be implemented even if the smell of corruption was there.
September 1st, 2009 at 8:40 am
Obvious remedy – have candidates/incumbents have rank order lists to fill vacancies in legislative bodies.
Default – legislative body fills vacancies.
NO more moronic low voter turnout special elections.
How about having MAJOR vacancies due to wars, rebellions, outer space monsters, earthquakes, etc. ???
The legislative power MUST be available 24/7.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:35 pm
Demo Rep, that idea is simply MORONIC. It’s asking for corruption. If a terrorist attack did take out Washington, we’d be left with a Congress full of nothing but big money contributors.
The best way to do it is the way Wyoming does it. It creates problems when you have a non-partisan Senator though, I will admit.
September 2nd, 2009 at 1:05 pm
I’m surprised the Green-Rainbow Party isn’t qualified there.
September 2nd, 2009 at 2:58 pm
The Green Party didn’t run anyone for US Senate in Massachusetts in 2008, and since it didn’t get 3% for president, and that was the only other statewide race, it went off the ballot.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
Richard:
So if the Constitution, Green or Working Family Party run a candidate for Kennedy’s Senate seat and that person were to receive over 3% of the vote, would that party now become ballot qualified for 2010 at least?
September 3rd, 2009 at 8:15 pm
No, the 3% vote test only applies to “the preceding biennial state election.” Special elections don’t count.