It is rapidly becoming obvious that Mitch isn’t going to make it to 2026 when his current term ends. So what comes next? Because of McConnell’s obvious deterioration, the Republican super-majority in the legislature this year changed the long standing method by which vacant terms were filled for federal offices. Traditionally, the Governor appointed a replacement which of course would be from their own party. Republicans, panicked at the thought of McConnell dropping dead and Andy Beshear filling his seat with a Democrat, changed the law so that now the Governor selects the replacement from a group of three candidates supplied by, you guessed it, the Republican President of the Senate.
My prediction: Beshear makes his own selection who will be confirmed by the Democratic Senate majority while the appointment is tied up in court for the next couple years. His appointment will be a place holder, probably a respected retired senior politician, and Beshear runs for Senate in the 2026 election.