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That's outrageous, given that the average number of days it usually takes for a specially-elected Senator to be certified, according to the Republican National Lawyers Association.
The average time is 9.3 days to seat a senator-elect following a special election when the election was not on the same date as the November General Election (three races total). In 1996, Ron Wyden (D-OR) was seated in seven days. In 1993, Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) was seated in nine days, replacing the incumbent Democrat Senator, Bob Krueger. In December of 1992, sitting Senator Kent Conrad was re-seated in twelve days.Given that there is no definitive word about when Massachusetts officials plan on certifying him, it's probably too early to play the blame game — but that doesn't mean we don't have to watch this issue.
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When there is a certified winner in Massachusetts, the Senate has received appropriate papers, and the vice president is available, the successor to Kennedy/Kirk will be sworn in.If his certification is delayed, it would be terrible PR for an already-faltering Democratic Party. Messing with policy is one thing: backhanded political maneuvers to delay the voice of the people are another. And if this election proved anything, it's that voters are listening.
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