The Post Session Shuffle, Part Two

Now that First District Congressman David Wu has announced his resignation, the talk has turned to the logistics of his replacement.

David WuOver at BlueOregon, Kari Chisholm has this lowdown on the process: The Constitution says that vacant House seats are resolved with a special election. There is no gubernatorial appointment, although the governor does set the date of the special election.  According to the Secretary of State, if the date Kitzhaber selects is more than 80 days out from the resignation, there would be a special primary and a special general election. If the date he selects is fewer than 80 days after the resignation, Democrats and Republicans select their nominees through party conventions, and voters decide in a special general election.

The Oregonian reported that Kitzaber said he will set a date that allows for "sufficient time for the secretary of state to call a special primary." In other words, more than 80 days out from when Wu actually resigns, which he hasn't yet.

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Election Night Will Bring Changes

Secretary of State Kate Brown predicts 72 percent of registered voters will participate in Tuesday's election, the highest turnout in a non-presidential election in 20 years. Pundits are predicting some surprises in the state races, and no one knows what to predict in the gubernatorial race, which is polling as one of the closest races in Oregon's history.

Election night will bring surprises. Incumbents will lose their seats, and parties will prevail in districts where a majority of voters are registered the other way.

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