West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd, the longest serving member of Congress on record, died Monday at the age of 92. Byrd was admitted to the hospital last week and listed in “serious” condition. No official cause of his death has yet been released. Senator Bryd has been in frail health for several years and was previously hospitalized three times in 2009.
Senator Byrd was admitted to the hospital last week on suspicion of heat exhaustion and severe dehydration, but his office reported over the weekend that his condition had become “serious.” A spokesman for Bryd’s family said he died peacefully around 3 AM at a hospital in Fairfax, VA.
Senator Robert Bryd served in Congress longer than anyone else in U.S. history. Bryd was first elected to Congress on January 3, 1953 and never lost an election. The Democratic Senator of West Virginia also held the record for casting the most roll call votes – 18,680 – than any other Senator.
West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin will appoint a replacement for Byrd to serve out the remainder of his term, which ends in 2013.
>> Previously:Â Senator Robert Byrd Hospitalized in Serious Condition
This was down to the wire, but if Byrd had died a week later it’d be an appointment. Instead it looks like they’ll have to have a special election because of the timeline.
It’s possible that the WV Gov holds off a week on declaring the seat empty so it can be less than 2.5 yrs until the next seating. If that happens then the Gov can appt anyone (including himself). Should be interesting. Hopefully he doesn’t take that call from Blago on line 2!
Well nevermind on the election. The governor has decided to not acknowledge the seat as vacant until it’s past the deadline so he can name a replacement rather than having an election.