Possible senate appointments after 2020 election for presidential/VP contenders

[President Johnson]

Assuming a sitting Democratic senator is elected president or vice president in 2020, who would be in the mix for an appointment to the seat? Of course, I'm only talking about senators who have a realistic shot ending up on the 2020 ticket.


Amy Klobuchar
(Gov. Tim Walz)

- Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan
- Rep. Betty McCollum

I don't think Ellison or some of the freshmen representatives would be appointed.


Elizabeth Warren
(Gov. Charlie Baker)

Do Republicans have a solid bench here? Maybe Bill Weld or Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito as placeholder? Could Baker appoint a Democrat such as Joe Kennedy here?


Kamala Harris
(Gov. Gavin Newsom)

Newsom has a wide field here from which he can chose.

- State Sen. Kevin de Leon
- Rep. Adam Schiff
- Rep. Karen Bass
- Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis
- AG Xavier Becerra
- State Treasuerer Fiona Ma
- Former State Treasuerer John Chiang
- LA Mayor Eric Garcetti
- State Sen. Ed Hernandez
- SF Mayor London Breed (though she's just been elected)

I think Schiff and Garcetti are most likely here because they're longer in office than the others, who just won an election/office. Schiff would have my preference here, just before Kounalakis and Chiang.


Cory Booker
(Gov. Phil Murphy)

- Rep. Josh Gottheimer
- Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver


Sherrod Brown may be a good vice presidential candidate, but his senate seat would be gone. Even if a Democrat was governor, the special election would lean/likely Republican when a Democrat is in the White House.

I have no ideal who could replace Bernie, but Vermont has also a Republican governor.

[JMT]

Minnesota (Amy Klobuchar): I think Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan would be the most likely. But I could Reps. Annie Craig, Dean Phillips and Betty McCollum getting an appointment as well.

Massachusetts (Elizabeth Warren): More likely than not, Baker would appoint a placeholder that wouldn't run in the next election. I could also see Baker appointing former state senator Richard Tisei to the seat. Tisei was Baker Lt. Gov running mate in the 2010 election, and perhaps Baker would give him the appointment to restart his political career. Tisei would be a good statewide candidate, he's pretty moderate. I don't think Karyn Polito would be interested, I think she wants to run for governor when Baker retires.

California (Kamala Harris): Lots of possibilities here. A few I don't think would get the appointment, though, are:
- Kevin de Leon: I think he burned some bridges running against Feinstein
- Adam Schiff: He's too powerful in the House, especially now that Dems hold the House. I don't think he'd be interested in a Senate appointment.
- Xavier Becerra: He left congress to become AG, which is a slightly unusual move. Because of this, I'm doubtful he'd be interested in returning to Washington.

New Jersey (Cory Booker): A ton of U.S. reps just got elected here that could move up to the Senate. Rep. Mikie Sherrill would be a great choice. Lt. Gov Sheila Oliver is also a possibility.

Ohio (Sherrod Brown): Not entirely sure, but it would be a Republican because Mike DeWine is governor. Some of the U.S. Reps are possibilities, and Ohio just elected some new statewide Republican officials who could be appointed. I don't think the appointment would go to Jon Husted, the new Lt. Governor. Husted ran for governor in 2018 but dropped out to be DeWine's running mate, I think Husted will be the frontrunner for governor when DeWine leaves office (and he'll probably remain Lt. Gov in waiting to run for governor).

Vermont: I have no idea. Technically, Vermont has a 2020 governor's race, so it's possible a Democrat could win that and appoint a Democrat to Bernie's seat. But, assuming Phil Scott wins reelection, there's no real bench for Republicans here. Perhaps former Lt. Gov Brian Dubie? It's possible Scott just appoints a no-name placeholder.

Connecticut (Chris Murphy):
- Rep. Jahana Hayes
- Lt. Gov Susan Bysiewicz
- Rep. Jim Himes
- Attorney General William Tong

New York (Kirsten Gillibrand): A lot of possibilities here. Some of the U.S. reps would be considered. Perhaps Attorney General Letitia James as well?

[brucejoel99]

Vermont: I have no idea. Technically, Vermont has a 2020 governor's race, so it's possible a Democrat could win that and appoint a Democrat to Bernie's seat. But, assuming Phil Scott wins reelection, there's no real bench for Republicans here. Perhaps former Lt. Gov Brian Dubie? It's possible Scott just appoints a no-name placeholder.

Jim Douglas, perhaps. Hell, he'll only be 69, not too old to go to Washington for the first time lol

[Frenchrepublican]

Minnesota (Amy Klobuchar): I think Lt. Gov Peggy Flanagan would be the most likely. But I could Reps. Annie Craig, Dean Phillips and Betty McCollum getting an appointment as well.

Massachusetts (Elizabeth Warren): More likely than not, Baker would appoint a placeholder that wouldn't run in the next election. I could also see Baker appointing former state senator Richard Tisei to the seat. Tisei was Baker Lt. Gov running mate in the 2010 election, and perhaps Baker would give him the appointment to restart his political career. Tisei would be a good statewide candidate, he's pretty moderate. I don't think Karyn Polito would be interested, I think she wants to run for governor when Baker retires.

California (Kamala Harris): Lots of possibilities here. A few I don't think would get the appointment, though, are:
- Kevin de Leon: I think he burned some bridges running against Feinstein
- Adam Schiff: He's too powerful in the House, especially now that Dems hold the House. I don't think he'd be interested in a Senate appointment.
- Xavier Becerra: He left congress to become AG, which is a slightly unusual move. Because of this, I'm doubtful he'd be interested in returning to Washington.

New Jersey (Cory Booker): A ton of U.S. reps just got elected here that could move up to the Senate. Rep. Mikie Sherrill would be a great choice. Lt. Gov Sheila Oliver is also a possibility.

Ohio (Sherrod Brown): Not entirely sure, but it would be a Republican because Mike DeWine is governor. Some of the U.S. Reps are possibilities, and Ohio just elected some new statewide Republican officials who could be appointed. I don't think the appointment would go to Jon Husted, the new Lt. Governor. Husted ran for governor in 2018 but dropped out to be DeWine's running mate, I think Husted will be the frontrunner for governor when DeWine leaves office (and he'll probably remain Lt. Gov in waiting to run for governor).

Vermont: I have no idea. Technically, Vermont has a 2020 governor's race, so it's possible a Democrat could win that and appoint a Democrat to Bernie's seat. But, assuming Phil Scott wins reelection, there's no real bench for Republicans here. Perhaps former Lt. Gov Brian Dubie? It's possible Scott just appoints a no-name placeholder.

Connecticut (Chris Murphy):
- Rep. Jahana Hayes
- Lt. Gov Susan Bysiewicz
- Rep. Jim Himes
- Attorney General William Tong

New York (Kirsten Gillibrand): A lot of possibilities here. Some of the U.S. reps would be considered. Perhaps Attorney General Letitia James as well?

Concerning Ohio Frank LaRose has been mentioned as a possible replacement

[Del Tachi]

If Gillibrand somehow becomes President of VP, I think Cuomo appoints either Kathleen Rice or Grace Meng

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

I doubt Gillibrand or Klobuchar gets the nomination

[brucejoel99]

Bernie Sanders
(Gov. Phil Scott)

• Former Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie
• Former Gov. Jim Douglas
• Businessman Scott Milne

(Democratic Governor) (could be elected in 2020)

• Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman
• AG T.J. Donovan

Elizabeth Warren
(Gov. Charlie Baker)

• Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito
• Chief of Staff Kristen Lepore
• Former State Sen. Richard Tisei

Kamala Harris
(Gov. Gavin Newsom)

• LA Mayor Eric Garcetti
• Former Treasurer John Chiang
• Rep. Adam Schiff
• Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis
• Secretary of State Alex Padilla
• State Sen. Ed Hernandez
• Rep. Eric Swalwell
• SF Mayor London Breed
• AG Xavier Becerra
• Treasurer Fiona Ma
• Controller Betty Yee
• Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara
• Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond

Cory Booker
(Gov. Phil Murphy)

• State Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter
• Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver
• Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop
• Former Gov. Richard Codey

Kirsten Gillibrand
(Gov. Andrew Cuomo)

• AG Letitia James
• Rep. Kathleen Rice
• Rep. Grace Meng
• State Assemblyman Michael Blake
• Rep. Yvette Clarke
• Rep. Paul Tonko
• Rep. Tom Suozzi
• Rep. Adriano Espaillat
• Rep. Max Rose
• Rep. Antonio Delgado
• Rep. Anthony Brindisi

Amy Klobuchar
(Gov. Tim Walz)

• Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan
• AG Keith Ellison
• Rep. Betty McCollum

Sherrod Brown
(Gov. Mike Dewine)

• Lt. Gov. Jon A. Husted
• Former Rep. Jim Renacci
• Former Treasurer Josh Mandel
• Former Rep. Pat Tiberi
• Secretary of State Frank LaRose
• Treasurer Robert Sprague
• Auditor Keith Faber
• Former Secretary of State Ken Blackwell

[Alabama_Indy10]

If Elizabeth Warren wins (which I think is quite unlikely) I would expect Baker to appoint Richard Tisei.

[Landslide Lyndon]

Kounalakis and Becerra have their eyes on the governorship, so I don't think they will accept any senate appointments.
Newsom will probably seek to appoint someone from southern California to balance things out.

[MAINEiac4434]

No way someone on the left of the party like Murphy nominates someone like JOSH FREAKING GOTTHEIMER to the Senate. Absolutely no way.

If Elizabeth Warren wins, Charlie Baker won't nominate anyone, because the supermajority Democratic legislature will strip the Governor of the power to nominate replacements for Senate vacancies, as they did in 2004 with Kerry as Dem nominee and Romney as Governor. Ditto for Vermont.

[lfromnj]

No way someone on the left of the party like Murphy nominates someone like JOSH FREAKING GOTTHEIMER to the Senate. Absolutely no way.

If Elizabeth Warren wins, Charlie Baker won't nominate anyone, because the supermajority Democratic legislature will strip the Governor of the power to nominate replacements for Senate vacancies, as they did in 2004 with Kerry as Dem nominee and Romney as Governor. Ditto for Vermont.

If I was murphy I would. He could then pressure the independent commission for a 10-2 map.