With the unfortunate passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, Republican Governor Chris Christie will be allowed to appoint a replacement and set the date for a special election. Since it is widely believed that Christie intends to be a presidential candidate in 2016, his choices could have significant political ramifications. He also faces reelection this year, so he has to consider that, too.
It is not uncommon for governors who are deliberating Senate appointments to come under pressure to select someone who will not actually seek to run for the seat in the special election. For example, Massachusetts Governor Duval Patrick chose William Cohan, who promised not to be a candidate, to replace John Kerry when he was confirmed to be Secretary of State. Before that, Gov. Patrick appointed Paul Kirk to replace Teddy Kennedy. Kirk also declined to run in the special election. One reason governors do this is to avoid favoritism if more than one member of their party intends to contend for the seat.
On the other hand, there are advantages to incumbency and also the advantage of seniority within the Senate that come with appointing someone who will contend for the seat. Lautenberg had already announced his retirement and Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Rep. Frank Pallone were already gearing up to run for the Democratic nomination to replace him. Either one would probably be favored to beat any conceivable Republican, so getting the advantage of incumbency is an important consideration for the GOP.
Christie has conflicting priorities. He doesn’t want to alienate moderates who voted both for him and for Obama because he needs them to win reelection. Yet, he doesn’t want to alienate the conservative base of the party by appointing someone who will go to Washington and vote with the Democrats because he has presidential aspirations and wants to win the Republican nomination.
He could choose a placeholder like former governor and co-chair of the 9/11 Commission Tom Kean, or former governor and chairwoman of the Environmental Protection Agency Christie Todd Whitman. He could pick someone from the congressional delegation, although they’d be less likely to want to give up their seat for a short-lived career in the Senate. Maybe there is someone close to Christie, on his staff perhaps, who he’d like to see in the position. Or, he could pick some conservative hero to gain credibility with the base.
Finally, he could decide that he will pick sides and select someone who does intend to run in the special election. This, quite possibly, would cause some dissension within the New Jersey Republican Party, which is not something that would be particularly helpful to Christie’s reelection efforts. But, assuming Christie wins reelection, the legacy of his pick would be based primarily on whether they were able to retain the seat for the Republicans.
His safest bet is probably Tom Kean. Kean is 78 and I don’t know what his energy-level is, but hardly anyone would complain if he were a placeholder candidate.
Politco has this:
“However, there is some question over whether Christie’s appointment would face a special election in November — as Democrats claim — or would serve out the remainder of Lautenberg’s term. Democrats are expected to file a legal challenge on this issue in New Jersey.”
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/06/frank-lautenberg-dead-92139.html#ixzz2VAeHV2Y2
Typical Politco-speak. What is the law in New Jersey?
Drafting error is the cause.
My home state never disappoints.
One of the dicier situations for a sitting governor up for re-election in less than two years. If he falls into the trap of politicizing it, it could bite him back.
Christie should just pick Bruce Springsteen.
Bruce has turned down running for Governor several times. I doubt he’d want to go to the Senate. Anyway, he’s touring for the next few months.
That would be brilliant, though.
Brilliant, how? Another example of Christie trying so hard to suck up to his “hero”?
people would love him for it.
Whitman
Putting aside that little about NJ election seems to ever be established law, I think Kean would be the #1 choice, Whitman maybe #2.
First no Republican is going to win the seat whether they want to run or not. Booker is too strong and the GOP in the state is too weak.
Second he need to pick someone who statewide is known and not deeply hated. Anything else will look like political hack work and he will get heat.
Third I needs to be a Republican or the national party will hate him. They would prefer a tea party hack but Christy isn’t one himself and the state has yet to produce a whack job GOP player at the statewide level.
The law is unclear about whether his appointment would serve for five months or seventeen. But it’s clear that he can preempt that disparity by calling for a special election. I assume he will do so. In that case, he will share the ballot with his selection if they choose to run for the seat. That adds another consideration.
So is there absolutely no chance of Christie picking a Conservative Dem?
Also, if someone dies in office who was wholly elected by citizens if state, shouldn’t the guv be required to appoint someone of the same party as deceased?
Isn’t that what’s done in Hawaii or some place?
.
How Delaware managed Biden’s resignation when he became VP is a good model. Kaufman was a long-term Biden advisor; so the Delaware voters got a continuation of what they had voted for. For two years, they also got one of the more effective and liberal Senators.
But can’t fault how Patrick and Patterson handled the Kerry and Clinton vacant seats.
I think Christie is headed for the Democratic Party eventually. Either that or he will be a Dem mole in the Republican Party right on up and into the White House in a truly awesome fix. Talk about double dealing!!!
My bet for the Senate thing? I don’t have one because I don’t know who will accede to that particular fix. It will almost have to be a Republican if Christie is going to run for governor again, but if it is a Republican it will have to be someone who promises to support the Dems on important matters.
A great move on his part?
Appoint himself. That would almost assuredly give the governorship back to the Dems and he could be the Dem Republican Senate mole. That choice leaves him a lot of options for 2016, too. Think of the political markers he would pile up!!!
I can see it now.
Like dat.
O’l Mark Twain knew.
Like dat, too.
Bet on it.
AG
Kim Guadagno is pro-choice. That would be interesting.