The Maine Dem. Party chose the replacement for Platner on Maine’s Nov. ballot since Maine had already held its primaries. Ohio hasn’t yet held its primaries. (Here in MA, our primaries won’t be held until Sept. 1.) I assume that, like the state of Maine and the Maine Dem. Party, Ohio has laws, and the Ohio Republican Party has procedures, to address the death or withdrawal of a candidate before an election. These laws and procedures, quite properly, address the timing of a candidate’s death or withdrawal. If there’s not enough time for a special primary (as here, after Aug. 4), the political party will choose the replacement. Where is the tangled BS?
Well put. The Hill identifies four Repub senators who haven’t indicated how they will vote on Blanche’s nomination, two of whom are in tough reelection campaigns, Collins and Husted (who is up against Sherrod Brown in Ohio). A yea vote would hurt each of these senators. A nay vote would bolster Collins’ claim to being a principled “centrist,” as The Hill dubs her (ugh – what use is a “principled” centrist who caucuses with fascists?). The other two are Murkowski, who will be up for reelection in 2028, and Cassidy, who has stood up to Trump in the past and can’t be reelected to his seat this Nov. because he was defeated in LAs’ Repub primary. Thune says that he hasn’t whipped the vote yet (really? when he hopes the Senate will vote on Friday?) but is confident that Blanche will be confirmed. Is Thune blustering? In McConnell’s absence, Repubs can afford to lose only two votes. If Thune is truly confident, has a deal been struck – say, Murkowski and Cassidy vote yea, leaving Collins and Husted free to vote nay? I can’t see Murkowski doing that except maybe to help out Collins. But her yea vote might help Peltola, the Dem giving Alaska’s other senator, Dan Sullivan, a run for his money. As for Cassidy, he may want to maintain what ties he still has with Repubs, but those may matter less to him than they would to others because he can return to practicing medicine (though probably wouldn’t) or working for a public health advocacy group (or some such), owes nothing to Trump (who saw to it that he’s be primaried successfully), and might see voting against Blanche as atonement for his critically important vote for RFKJr., which he is believed to regret deeply.
I have a fantasy that, with the vote tied at 49-49 and Vance preparing to cast the deciding vote, Mitch McConnell is wheeled into the Senate chamber. Just as John McCain cast the deciding vote to save the ACA, McConnell surprises everyone and votes against Blanche’s nomination. A girl can dream, can’t she?
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Another fine example of actions speaking louder than words.
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Collins has a lot to lose if she votes yea and probably a lot to gain – like retention of her Senate seat – if she votes nay. If Collins is reelected, she probably will not run again (she’ll turn 74 in Dec.), and, even if she did, would not have to worry about her right flank. That’s not an issue in Maine’s statewide elections. What she does have to worry about if she votes nay is losing her position as chair of the Appropriations Committee and any other significant role in the Senate leadership or committees.
So - if Rep Max Miller does not drop out by 5:00 pm today ( or is it midnight) is that it?
Is it then absolutely locked in that Miller is on the ballot as the Republican candidate - no matter what.
or is it that - this deadline only applies to the triggering of a special primary?
It IS looking like Miller is getting a brutal pummeling today - but will he heed the messaging ?
BUT - does there exist some way for the Republican party to oust his ass - even if Miller refuses to drop out?
Or is it that if Miller hangs in there beyond today … but then on Thursday or Friday he capitulates and cries “Uncle” and drops out the Republicans can erase his name and supply another as the nominee.
In Maine, Platner had to drop out - or - be on the ballot by a specific time - which he did - and the Democrats had a range of options - and chose a selection process that was fairly expedient - and involved a degree of “selection”