Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith to replace Franken

Reuters ^ | December 13, 2017

[newgeezer]

Dec 13 (Reuters) - Minnesota's Democratic Lieutenant Governor Tina Smith was appointed as U.S. senator on Wednesday to replace Al Franken, who resigned after being accused of sexual harassment, the state's governor said at a news conference.

Governor Mark Dayton said that Smith will serve a one-year term in the Senate, concluding in January 2019. Smith, 59, will run in a special election for the seat next year.

Smith became lieutenant governor in January 2015. The Star Tribune said she previously worked as Dayton's chief of staff and held positions at General Mills and Planned Parenthood.

Last week Franken, 66, also a Democrat, announced his resignation from the seat he has held since 2009. The former comedian has denied some of the allegations against him and questioned others. Reuters has not independently verified the accusations against Franken.

Minnesota will soon have two women senators, as Smith will join fellow Democrat Amy Klobuchar, 57, who became the state's first woman senator after winning election a year ago.

The Republican Party's slim majority in the Senate will not be affected by the move to replace Franken.

Democrats will gain a seat to cut Republican's majority in the 100-member Senate to 51 after Tuesday night's victory by Doug Jones over Republican candidate Roy Moore in a special election in Alabama.

[newgeezer]

A woman. What a surprise. Generally immune from allegations of sexual misconduct.

[wyowolf]

Slimy Al has not yet left the building...

[LouieFisk]

She has also said she will run in 2020 and not be just a “placeholder”.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Al was rooting for Roy.

Now he has to go.

[LouieFisk]

I meant 2018, DOH!!!

[Liz]

Wonder if Tina has a photo of herself and Franken.....and where Al’s hands are?

[DoughtyOne]

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[ifinnegan]

Like clockwork.

I knew he would not actually resign unless Moore lost.

[LouieFisk]

“held positions at General Mills and Planned Parenthood.”
—
She was VP of the Minnesota PP.

[rdl6989]

Per Wikipedia she was Vice President for Planned Parenthood in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Smith

[marktwain]

Franken has not actually resigned yet.

Looks like Governor Dayton and Lieutenant Governor Smith are trying to push him along....

[Liz]

POLITICO Democrats cling to the impossible: Winning the Senate in 2018
Capturing the majority would mean prevailing in deep-red terrain like Texas or Tennessee.
By KEVIN ROBILLARD and GABRIEL DEBENEDETTI

https://www.politico.com/story/2017/09/15/senate-democrats-hold-on-to-majority-hopes-242750

[Stingray51]

I guess I missed Franken actually resigning, as opposed to stating that he would resign in the coming weeks.

[Flick Lives]

Slimy Al has not yet left the building...

---

With the announcement of a female replacement, Franken is as good as gone.

On the plus side, at least the replacement is not Keith Ellison. Of course the only way that would happen in the current environment is if Keith transitioned to Kendra.

[iowamark]

Dayton-Hudson is assuming that Franken will actually resign as he promised. Perhaps this is a strategy to pressure Franken.

Tina Smith is former VP of Planned Parenthood of Minnesota, operator of a number of abortion clinics.

http://www.startribune.com/planned-parenthood-grows-stronger-in-minnesota-amid-pressure/363022001/
“”While Minnesota abortions overall have declined by 30 percent since 2000, those performed by Planned Parenthood have increased, according to records reviewed by the Star Tribune. While competing clinics have closed, Planned Parenthood has opened a $16 million headquarters in St. Paul and tripled its endowment to $30 million...

The quiet growth has made Planned Parenthood a dominant provider in the state: It performed 49 percent of elective abortions in Minnesota last year, compared to 17 percent in 2000.””

[elcid1970]

And what makes you think Franken will resign now? Because he’ll be `shunned’ by his Democrat colleagues if he doesn’t? He’s already known as the Jerk of the Senate and is also known for making physical threats. I don’t believe even Chuckie Schumer wants to confront him.

Outside of Congress, Franken has no marketable skills and will hang on to his Senate seat with his teeth.

[zerosix]

So when does this NARAL worker get sworn in?

Before or after Alabama certifies the Jones win?

This game is still Chess not checkers.

[xzins]

Unless she identifies as male. Then it can do whatever the hell it wants.

[refermech]

Any bets the Dems field all females next election cycle?

[alicewonders]

“A woman. What a surprise. Generally immune from allegations of sexual misconduct. “

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It wasn’t a surprise to Franken - this is what he said in his “resignation” speech:

“The Minnesotans deserve a senator who can focus with all HER energy on addressing the challenges they face every day.”