In 2004, Massachusetts had a Republican governor, Mitt Romney. One of its senator's, John Kerry(D), was running for POTUS. Massachusetts' law gave the governor power to directly fill any vacancy created, if Kerry won the Presidency in 2004.
Ted Kennedy(D) was successful in removing that power from the governor by changing state law to require a special Senate election within 145 to 160 days of receiving a resignation letter from said Senator.
By 2007, Massachusetts had a Democrat governor, Deval Patrick. Shortly before Ted Kennedy's death in August, 2009, Kennedy petitioned the state legislature to give the power to directly fill any Senate vacancy back to the now Democrat governor. (Not that Mr. Kennedy was a manipulative, partisan hack, or anything...)
The Massachusetts legislature never pursued the idea.
So, thank you, Ted! If it wasn't for you, Scott Brown(R) would have never had a chance at winning "the people's seat."
