If McConnell is unavailable, even Thomas Massie could replace him up until Aug. 3 deadline for KY special elections

[allegorical oracle]

By Robbie Soave

(Speculation underway in KY)

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R–S.D.) maintains that he has spoken with McConnell, that he's in good health, and that he'll be voting on legislation again any day now. Republican commentator Scott Jennings said he spoke with McConnell and that he's fine.

snip

McConnell is retiring, and the standard election to replace him will happen in November. It's already squared away: a Republican, Andy Barr, vs. a Democrat, Charles Booker. Barr is supported by the Republican establishment and is overwhelmingly likely to win since Kentucky is a Republican state.

But that's November. What if, God forbid, McConnell doesn't make it until then? Well, in that case, Kentucky would have to hold a special election to fill the seat. Kentucky is one of a handful of states in which the governor can't just appoint a temporary replacement: It would need to schedule a special election. And anybody could file to run as an independent in that election—including Massie.

But here's the catch—this only applies if it became clear that McConnell needed to be replaced before the cutoff date of August 3. After August 3, there will be no special election, even if McConnell is out early. At that point, the seat would simply be empty, and McConnell's replacement would be determined via the normal November election. And it's too late for Massie or anyone else to run as an independent in that one.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/mitch-mcconnell-s-absence-sparks-thomas-massie-senate-speculation/ar-AA27q05s