Leahy is hospitalized

[SteveO]

Ted King wrote:
Sorry for sounding so politically calculating about this but if Leahy were to die, if I understand it correctly, the governor - who is a Republican - would call for a special election that has to take place within six months of the vacancy and can name a temporary replacement person in the interim. If so, that would probably be really bad for Democrats wouldn't it? As in could they lose their Senate majority - at least temporarily?

That is correct, but my understanding is out of respect, it is the custom to name someone from that same party that held the seat. But it seems like customs, at least as they pertain to political courtesy, are in short supply.