Tx Senator Mario Gallegos in 'grave' condition

[RHenriksen]

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas ... 943526.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Doesn't sound good at all. Prayers for his family.

[Jasonw560]

That has to be rough for the family.

My prayers go out to them.

[Jumping Frog]

So if he dies before the election, I wonder what happens on the ballot. Do people elect a dead senator that then gets replaced by the Democratic Party apparatus?

[psijac]

Sometimes even a transplant cant save a life. Steve jobs had all the money in the world and still shuffled off this mortal coil

[tbrown]

I'm praying for him to retire and make a full recovery, so he has mucho tiempo to enjoy his family.

[katiethompson]

So if he dies before the election, I wonder what happens on the ballot. Do people elect a dead senator that then gets replaced by the Democratic Party apparatus?

I think there would be a special election to find someone to fill his seat until session begins in January, then (if I'm reading the statutes correctly) his name would be withdrawn from the general election ballot. http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/D ... EL.145.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Praying it doesn't come to that, though!

[tacticool]

So if he dies before the election, I wonder what happens on the ballot. Do people elect a dead senator that then gets replaced by the Democratic Party apparatus?

There are rules in the Texas Election Code for this.

145.002. PROCEDURE FOR OMITTING DECEASED CANDIDATE'S NAME FROM BALLOT.
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), if a candidate's name is to be omitted from the ballot under this code because the candidate has died, the authority responsible for having the official ballot prepared shall omit the candidate's name from the ballot on receipt of reliable information of the death.
(b) If a deceased candidate's name has been certified by the secretary of state for placement on the ballot, the candidate's name may not be omitted from the ballot without authorization from the secretary of state.

145.005. EFFECT OF VOTES CAST FOR DECEASED, WITHDRAWN, OR INELIGIBLE CANDIDATE.
(a) If the name of a deceased, withdrawn, or ineligible candidate appears on the ballot under this chapter, the votes cast for the candidate shall be counted and entered on the official election returns in the same manner as for the other candidates.
(b) If the deceased, withdrawn, or ineligible candidate receives the vote required for election, the resulting vacancy shall be filled in the regular manner.
(c) If the deceased, withdrawn, or ineligible candidate and another candidate tie for the most votes in an election in which a plurality vote is sufficient for election, the other candidate is considered to be elected.

[RPB]

State Sen. Mario Gallegos dies

By Joe Holley | Tuesday, October 16, 2012 | Updated: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 5:25pm
State Sen. Mario Gallegos, 62, a Democratic lawmaker whose 22-year career in the Texas Legislature was marked by courage, controversy and dogged commitment to issues of importance to the Hispanic community, died Tuesday afternoon at Methodist Hospital in Houston from complications of liver disease.

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas ... 953814.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[tbrown]

According to the law quoted eariler, a deceased candidate should be removed from the ballot, but I hear the Democrats blocked the law from being followed for Texas Senate District 6 and they're going to try to force a runoff where they can do a switcheroo. Does anyone know more details?

[psijac]

According to the law quoted eariler, a deceased candidate should be removed from the ballot, but I hear the Democrats blocked the law from being followed for Texas Senate District 6 and they're going to try to force a runoff where they can do a switcheroo. Does anyone know more details?

I went to vote early and he is still on the ballot

[bizarrenormality]

That's fair. All the dead people voting straight ticket Democrat in Harris County deserve one of their own on the ballot.