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W.Va. sets special U.S. Senate elections
CHARLESTON, W.Va., West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin Monday signed legislation providing for special elections to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Robert Byrd.
The House voted 83-7 and the state Senate voted 29-0 to pass the compromise measure, which calls for an Aug. 28 special primary and a Nov. 2 special election to choose a successor to Byrd, who died June 28 with more than 30 months remaining in his term.
Carte Goodwin, a Manchin appointee who is to be sworn in Tuesday, will fill the Byrd vacancy until an election is held.
Manchin, who has said it is "highly likely" he will run for the seat, said he will announce his intentions Tuesday morning The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette reported Monday.
The bill passed and signed Monday applies only to 2010 elections to choose a successor to Byrd, the newspaper said. West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant is to submit to the Legislature an analysis of the 2010 special election for use in developing legislation to reform the state's senatorial succession law.
The new law stipulates that the 2010 special election is distinct from the general election, which electoral analysts say will enable West Virginia Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito to run for the Senate at the same time as she runs for re-election to the House. The Gazette said it had been unable Monday to reach Capito for a comment on whether she would run for the Senate.
CHARLESTON, W.Va., West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin Monday signed legislation providing for special elections to fill the U.S. Senate seat left vacant by the death of Robert Byrd.
The House voted 83-7 and the state Senate voted 29-0 to pass the compromise measure, which calls for an Aug. 28 special primary and a Nov. 2 special election to choose a successor to Byrd, who died June 28 with more than 30 months remaining in his term.
Carte Goodwin, a Manchin appointee who is to be sworn in Tuesday, will fill the Byrd vacancy until an election is held.
Manchin, who has said it is "highly likely" he will run for the seat, said he will announce his intentions Tuesday morning The Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette reported Monday.
The bill passed and signed Monday applies only to 2010 elections to choose a successor to Byrd, the newspaper said. West Virginia Secretary of State Natalie Tennant is to submit to the Legislature an analysis of the 2010 special election for use in developing legislation to reform the state's senatorial succession law.
The new law stipulates that the 2010 special election is distinct from the general election, which electoral analysts say will enable West Virginia Republican Rep. Shelley Moore Capito to run for the Senate at the same time as she runs for re-election to the House. The Gazette said it had been unable Monday to reach Capito for a comment on whether she would run for the Senate.
