Why Governor-Elect Amy Klobuchar should not pick her successor in the US Senate

I have voted for Amy Klobuchar many times and I am certain she will “move Minnesota forward” competently. Like many of my fellow Minnesotans, I voted for Sen Klobuchar somewhat reluctantly. And, I am not convinced we will see progressive policies I had hoped we could count on in the near future.

The past couple of years has seen the brutal targeting of our neighbors and fellow Minnesotans for deportation, the dismantling of the US scientific research enterprise, the cancellation of funding for education, the arts, humanities and social sciences, the dismantling of environmental programs and protections, the rolling back of civil and human rights, and the destruction of what we once proclaimed was the best public health infrastructure in the world.

The momentous election on Tuesday changes things and it is incumbent upon Sen Klobuchar, Sen Smith, Rep Omar, Rep Morrison and Rep McCullum to initiate the process of repairing this damage, post haste. We cannot wait till January 2027 and we certainly cannot wait till January 2029. So, I am in favor or Sen Klobuchar retaining her Senate seat into January if she can work on ways to hold the current regime accountable. Sen Klobuchar, with experience and seniority, can help set the stage for next year when we hope there will be a return to lawful governance at the Federal level with consequences and accountability for the lawlessness that has marked the past 22 months of Trump’s siege on our liberties and our way of life. And yet, it may serve the next appointee and Minnesota well if her successor is picked immediately and can begin working with the class of newly elected Senators.

I hope that Sen Klobuchar does not pick her own replacement. Rather, I hope she will either focus on her important job as a US Senator or step aside to give her successor time to prepare before January. Governor Walz can select her replacement.

Here is my rationale. First, Sen Klobuchar has a job to do in Washington to begin repairing our country. Second, in a climate where trust is hard to win, while it would be constitutionally permitted for her to appoint her successor, I believe she could earn more trust among Minnesotans if she isn’t involved in the selection. Third, from a risk assessment perspective, I don’t know why Sen Klobuchar would want to needlessly expose the reputation of her future Governorship at the beginning of her term when she’ll want to be building bridges. Fourth, Klobuchar is already teetering on the centrist fence so I’m not sure why any Progressives who helped elect her (including me) would want her selecting the replacement. Last, there is a history that informs us here: In 1976 Senator Walter F. Mondale was elected Vice President. He resigned his position as US Senator and Governor Wendell Anderson needed to appoint a successor. Instead, Anderson resigned as Governor resulting in his then Lt Gov Rudy Perpich becoming governor. Governor Perpich then appointed Anderson to the US Senate seat vacated by Mondale. Anderson, a co-architect of the Minnesota Miracle of 1971, was rebuked for the self-dealing in the 1978 “Minnesota Massacre” in which the Republicans took control of the Governorship, both US Senate seats (not re-electing Anderson) and achieved an even split in the Minnesota House of Representatives.

The Anderson debacle was clearly different than the current scenario but I think it offers a data point to consider. What if she appoints her husband or a friend? What if she appoints a non-DFLer? What if her appointee turns out to have a skeleton in their closet? What if she appoints Gov Walz after she is sworn in? I simply don’t see the benefit of her selecting her own replacement, but I see many downsides to such a move.

I hope that Governor Walz will do the appointment and select someone with a science or medical background. The stakes are high—we need to rebuild the NIH, NSF, CDC, NOAA, NASA, NEA, NEH, and many other federal agencies. We need a robust and reliable public health infrastructure and we need healthcare for everyone. By picking a scientist or physician, this Senator would complement the wealth of skills that Sen-elect/Lt Gov Flanagan will take to Washington. Minnesotans would be well represented in Washington if this seat is filled by a scientist or physician. In turn, Minnesota will get a seat at the table in discussions of healthcare and research funding.