This is all results from my consultation with the magic lying conch, but my present understanding is if he's dead TODAY, the governor, a Democrat, could appoint a replacement at his leisure. The republicans, evil ghouls who have openly utilized lawfare for decades now while the Democrats pretend bipartisanship exists, passed a law in 2024 saying that he can't do that. But that goes against the Kentucky state constitution and my understanding is if you're a nerd who gives a shit about any of this the constitution takes primacy over the law, so he very much totally can. unless he dies at the wrong time, then it goes to an election!

The republicans are so obviously doing this weekend at Bernie's shit because of that specifically and if I were the governor I'd have every goon in my goon squad bust into the hospital (yes i know he's in another state) and demand proof of life. But the democrats are feckless when they're not complicit or paid to lose