This is part of it. Constitutionally, the governor can only appoint for state offices, but there was historical precedent for the governor to appoint federal offices. And you are right that the state had passed some laws requiring a special election, but it also had some crazy length like 56-days required between the call and the election taking place to let all counties be notified. (As best I can remember reading. It’s all a bit of a mess.)
The more annoying thing is the two rulebooks. McConnell has tended to make up his own rules (and justify them with legalese) and ignore the ones he doesn’t like. Beshear is trying to play by the rules, and not recognizing the actual power shifts that have happened. And so, here we sit in sending-angry-letter mode for the time being.
This is part of it. Constitutionally, the governor can only appoint for state offices, but there was historical precedent for the governor to appoint federal offices. And you are right that the state had passed some laws requiring a special election, but it also had some crazy length like 56-days required between the call and the election taking place to let all counties be notified. (As best I can remember reading. It’s all a bit of a mess.)
https://www.lex18.com/news/state-of-the-commonwealth/kentucky-law-requires-special-election-to-fill-vacant-u-s-senate-seat-not-appointment
The more annoying thing is the two rulebooks. McConnell has tended to make up his own rules (and justify them with legalese) and ignore the ones he doesn’t like. Beshear is trying to play by the rules, and not recognizing the actual power shifts that have happened. And so, here we sit in sending-angry-letter mode for the time being.
Edit: Comment below has better details https://lemmy.world/comment/25004076