Mississippi GOP governor won't appoint himself to US Senate
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's Republican governor took himself out of the mix Tuesday for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Thad Cochran, saying he'll find another strong contender to keep the seat firmly in GOP hands for decades, as Cochran did.
"There's something nefarious about the idea of a governor appointing himself. Washington's not where I want to be just now," Gov. Phil Bryant told reporters.
Cochran, 80, announced Monday that he is stepping down because of poor health. Bryant said he will choose a temporary successor for Cochran after the senator's April 1 resignation.
A special election will be held in November to fill the rest of Cochran's term, which ends in January 2021.