Kelly Could Be Seated In Time To Vote On Vacancy

The New York Times reports:

If Mark Kelly, the Democratic nominee for Senate in Arizona, unseats Senator Martha McSally, a Republican who was appointed to her seat and began serving last year, he could be sworn in as early as Nov. 30 — possibly in time to vote on a new Supreme Court nominee, elections experts said.

Hypothetically, that would narrow the Republicans’ 53-to-47 majority in the upper chamber, which may become relevant if a vote on a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was delayed until a lame-duck session after the election.

The Arizona race is technically a special election. The state’s Republican governor appointed Ms. McSally to the seat after she was defeated by Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat, in a closely contested Senate race in 2018.

The Arizona Senate race has taken on new importance after the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: If Democrat Mark Kelly wins, he could be sworn in to replace Sen. Martha McSally as early as Nov. 30 — possibly in time to vote on a new Supreme Court nominee. https://t.co/YgBO1x7BPR

— The New York Times (@nytimes) September 19, 2020

This U.S. Senate should vote on President Trump’s next nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.

— Martha McSally (@SenMcSallyAZ) September 19, 2020

Donate now to this person’s opponent, former astronaut @CaptMarkKelly:https://t.co/ICSJo0Blvs https://t.co/huKT0u5OST

— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) September 19, 2020