LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky lawmakers want to change the way the state would fill a United States Senate seat.
A House committee passed a proposal on Thursday that would have vacancies filled through a special election, and not a gubernatorial appointment.
Republican Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell announced on Wednesday he will step down as the GOP leader, but emphasized he will serve out his term.
Republican Rep. Steven Rudy from Paducah sponsored the bill.
"I think it's preferred," Rudy said. "I think God forbid we have a vacancy in a U.S. senator, I think the people would want to decide who their senator was."
Under current law, which was changed in 2021, the governor would select a replacement from a list provided by the vacating senator's party.
When asked about the bill, Gov. Andy Beshear called it partisan.
"The same authority that Paul Patton and Ernie Fletcher, Steve Beshear, and Matt Bevin had is the type of authority they're trying to tear away from me and my time as governor," he said.
The bill is headed to the full House for consideration.
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