QUESTIONS:
1. Recently, Democrat A.B. Chandler, III of Kentucky became the first Democrat to win a special election for a Republican House district since 1991. Who was the last Democrat to do this?
2. What caused the vacancy that was eventually filled by Chandler?
3. With Chandler??¢â???¬â???¢s election, how many other House seats are presently vacant?
4. Chandler, of course, is the namesake-grandson of ??¢â???¬?????Happy??¢â???¬ Chandler, who served as Kentucky??¢â???¬â???¢s governor and senator, and commissioner of baseball from 1945-50. Who preceded Chandler as baseball commissioner?
5. As governor in 1939, Happy Chandler appointed himself to a vacancy in the U.S. Senate. Why is Chandler unique among governors who have made similar self-appointments since the senators were first popularly elected?
ANSWERS:
1. Rep. John Olver (D.-Mass.), who won the seat of the late Rep. Silvio Conte (R.-Mass.) in 1991.
2. Incumbent Republican Rep. Ernie Fletcher was elected governor of Kentucky.
3. One, that of former Rep. William Janklow (R.-S.D.), who resigned after his conviction on manslaughter charges. There is a June 1 special election to fill this seat.
4. Judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis, the first commissioner of baseball.
5. He is the only one who went on to win a term of his own.
