| Article V, Section 5 of the Minnesota Constitution provides that if there is a vacancy in the position of Lt. Governor then the last elected President of the State Senate would become Lt. Governor. (shout out to the MCLU for my portable copy of the US and MN Constituions I got at the State Fair last week)
So, if the United States went crazy and actually elected a McCain/Pawlenty ticket in November we would have Governor Molneau (just threw up a little in my mouth) and Lt. Governor Jim Metzen.
First, doesn't that sound like just the funnest morning staff meeting? Executives from different parties would make the gridlock of the past six years look like nothing.
But, it could also open up an interesting race for President of the Senate at the DFL Caucus meeting right after the election with some State Senators actually wanting the position so they would then be "promoted" to Lt. Gov with the idea that it would give them an advantage in running for Governor in two years.
Right off the top of my head a contender would be Assistant Majority Leader Tarryl Clark. She is already on lists as a possible candidate anyway.
Who else would be poking their head into this possibility? |
