Special Election: Ron Paul for U.S. Senate?

[Njon]

As brought up at http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=192553

An upcoming (suspected) U.S. Senate special election in Texas gives us the opportunity to propel Dr. Paul to the upper chamber (if he wants to do so, of course). Apparently the GOP is concerned about losing the special election. See http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22552.html and http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/14/cornyn-expects-hutchison-to-resign-this-fall/ and http://blogs.chron.com/txpotomac/2009/05/cornyn_expects_hutchison_resig_1.html

With a money bomb, we could raise enough funds to wage an effective race. And even if Dr. Paul lost, because it's a special election he would still remain in the U.S. House.

If you support this idea, contact Campaign for Liberty and Dr. Paul to let them know: http://www.campaignforliberty.com/about.php#contact and http://www.house.gov/paul/contact.shtml

And also, contact Sen. Cornyn, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, RNC Chairman Michael Steele and the Texas GOP chair: http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/ and http://www.nrsc.org/about/ and http://www.gop.com/Connect/ContactUs.htm and http://www.texasgop.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Chairman_Benkisers_Bio

Perhaps their fear of losing the seat will cause them to reach out to us and accept this idea, because they know how quickly Dr. Paul supporters can raise money.


UPDATE: See other posts below here on page 1. It looks like Dr. Paul couldn't do this and still run for the House because the earliest the special election could be is May 2010, not November 2009 (the other option is actually November 2010; I misread the Politico piece). Thanks for pointing that out, nate895.

[Bern]

Cornyn told the Houston Chronicle he believes Hutchison is calibrating the timing of a resignation to help Republicans hold onto her seat. If she resigns in the fall (or anytime before the end of the year), Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, would appoint a replacement — with a special election slated for May 2010. If she resigns before September, there would be a November election.

So, the person she is going to likely be running against for the GOP nomination for Texas Governor will get to appoint her successor if she resigns after September. If she and Perry don't agree on her successor (likely), chances are better that she resigns early to deny Perry the opportunity?

[Njon]

So, the person she is going to likely be running against for the GOP nomination for Texas Governor will get to appoint her successor if she resigns after September. If she and Perry don't agree on her successor (likely), chances are better that she resigns early to deny Perry the opportunity?


Well, under the 17th amendment:

"When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the Senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, that the legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct."
From http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.amendmentxvii.html

An election is going to happen either way. The issue is, will it be this fall, or next spring? It all depends on when Sen. Hutchison resigns.

[Imperial]

We shouldn't send Ron Paul to the Senate in order to save money for other races.

[Zippyjuan]

I don't think Ron Paul would change from the House to the Senate. He would lose his seniority.

[nate895]

He shouldn't do that because you can't run for two office at once in Texas, unless one is President.

[Njon]

He shouldn't do that because you can't run for two office at once in Texas, unless one is President.


It depends on when the special election is. If it happens early (November of this year), wouldn't it be before the House 2010 filing deadline?

[nate895]

It depends on when the special election is. If it happens early (November of this year), wouldn't it be before the House 2010 filing deadline?

Special Senate Elections happen at the next Federal General Election, an interim Senators are appointed by either the Governor or State Legislature, according to state law. Except in Alaska, they go through the expense of two Special Elections because of corruption in that state.

[Njon]

Special Senate Elections happen at the next Federal General Election, an interim Senators are appointed by either the Governor or State Legislature, according to state law. Except in Alaska, they go through the expense of two Special Elections because of corruption in that state.

I got it; I was misreading the Politico piece at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22552.html

It says, "If she resigns in the fall (or anytime before the end of the year), Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, would appoint a replacement — with a special election slated for May 2010. If she resigns before September, there would be a November election."

So the earliest it could be would be May of 2010.