Senator Craig Thomas of Wyoming, one of the upper house’s more obscure Republicans, died last night. I agree with Robert Farley that while it would have been nice to see him replaced by a Democrat, Wyoming’s rule for handling this situation seems eminently more sensible than the standard one: “Under Wyoming’s election laws, the state Republican Party will nominate three people to be his successor. The final choice will be made by the state’s governor, David Freudenthal, a Democrat.”
Would it be so hard for other states to follow suit?
I disagree. The prospect that his seat may flip parties when he dies is an incentive for an old senator to retire. We have too many old senators who are deeply entrenched, practically unbeatable, and addicted to power. Removing a check against Senator-for-life syndrome is a bad idea.
