You can count Governor Bryant out for filling Senator Cochran’s seat in the U.S. Senate.
The long-time Mississippi Senator announced his intent to retire earlier this week, and many have wondered if the Governor would be headed to Washington D.C. to replace him. At an event on Tuesday, when asked if he was interested in appointing himself to fill the retiring Senator’s soon-to-be-vacant seat, the Governor said that he likes where he is and that there are others qualified to take Cochran’s spot.
“I could not appoint myself. There’s something nefarious about the idea of a governor appointing himself,” he said. “Washington is not where I want to be just now. I want to finish my term and my responsibility as Governor.”
Governor Bryant praised Cochran for his 40-year term in the Senate, and he went on to say that he will most likely announce a temporary replacement 10 days after April 1st, which is the day that Cochran is set to retire.
When it comes to what the Governor is looking for in a replacement, he wants someone that can represent Mississippi for years to come.
“I hope we have an opportunity to find a leader that will rise up and at least assume the duties. It’s impossible to fill his position of greatness, but we have many people that can certainly step up and be a great United States Senator.” Governor Bryant said. “What I want is someone that can serve for 20-25 years, someone that can go there and be the next Thad Cochran.”
After a temporary replacement is named, a special election will be held to elect a Senator to serve out the remainder of Cochran’s term which extends through 2021.
