There was once a time when filling a vacancy in the U.S. Senate was pretty clear cut. When a vacancy occurred either as a result of a death or resignation, the Governor of that state appointed a successor to fill the seat for the remainder of the term or until the next federal general election. In recent years, some states have tinkered with these laws, creating untold complications for the Governors who must fill such vacancies. Such is the case in New Jersey where Democratic Sen. Frank Lautenberg passed away this morning at the age of 89 from viral pneumonia.
Lautenberg had already announced his decision not to run in 2014. He has been absent from the Senate much of the last few months due to illness. But, if timing is everything in life, it might be even truer in the death of a U.S. Senator.
Under state law, the timing of Lautenberg’s death complicates when an election might be held to succeed him. The only thing that is clear is that when a U.S. Senate vacancy occurs, New Jersey’s
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