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Of course Andy Barr-R or Charles Booker-D will have McConnell's seat in January whether temporary senator or not in event McConnell can't complete term
WLKY-Louisville
  Says latest there can be a special election is September 8th.
 Past then Kentucky just has one senator until senator elected in November is seated

What would happen if Kentucky suddenly lost a U.S. Senator?

Before 2024, a Kentucky governor could appoint a temporary U.S. senator from a list provided by the departing senator’s political party until a special election was held.

That changed with House Bill 622, which became law in April 2024.

The legislation was sponsored by state Rep. Steven Rudy of Paducah. Former state Rep. Kevin Bratcher, now a Louisville Metro Council member, was one of its co-sponsors.

“We came up with the idea that we’ll just have a special election and let the voters decide,” Bratcher said.

Now, if a U.S. Senate seat becomes vacant, the governor must call a special election. There would be no temporary appointment. Until that election happens, Kentucky would have only one sitting U.S. senator.

If the vacancy happens within 56 days of an election and there is not enough time to hold a special election, the seat would remain vacant until the next regular election.

The next election in Nov. 3. Should something happen to a U.S. senator this year, the cutoff date for special election would be Sept. 8.

Bratcher said if a senator cannot fulfill his or her term and there is not enough time for the governor to set the process in motion, voters would wait until the next regular election.

Bratcher said the change puts the decision in the hands of voters, not the governor, but he hopes the law never has to be used.

“This hasn’t happened before, and hopefully it’ll never happen,” he said.

It is important to point out this law applies to any future vacancy in Kentucky.

Kentucky is one of just five states that requires a special election to fill a Senate vacancy.

This is when law changed. Also latest there can be special election is September 8th.
If not by then the remainder of a term goes unfilled leaving Kentucky one Senator until next term