J. Bonnie Newman To Senate As Judd Gregg Replacement

UPDATE 2/3: Democratic Gov. John Lynch has picked Republican Bonnie Newman to replace GOP Sen. Judd Gregg, President Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary.

Lynch's announcement Tuesday that the businesswoman and former government official would become senator came hours after Obama nominated Gregg to the commerce post. Gregg had indicated he would take the Cabinet job only if the balance of power in the Senate didn't change.

Lynch confirmed that Newman has agreed to serve only the remaining two years of Gregg's six-year Senate term. Gregg's departure should make the seat more competitive next year for Democrats.

Newman has supported Lynch in his previous races.

While Newman is seen as a moderate choice, Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold has issued a statement excoriating the agreement as "alarmingly undemocratic."

"But the apparent behind-the-scenes deal-making that went on to determine who will fill Senator Gregg's vacancy is alarmingly undemocratic. Once again, Americans will be represented in the Senate for nearly two years by someone they had no hand in electing. As the number of Senators appointed to their seats continues to rise, it's increasingly clear that we need to fix this constitutional anachronism. It is time to pass a constitutional amendment to end appointments by governors and the political gamesmanship they encourage."

Feingold makes no specific mention of Newman, suggesting that he is not hating the player so much as he hates the game.

The word on Newman is that she is highly competent and sufficiently experienced to replace Gregg in the Senate. From the Boston Globe:

Newman served as assistant secretary of Commerce for economic development in the Reagan administration. She was in charge of administrative operations for the George H.W. Bush White House.

She was chief of staff to Gregg when he was a congressman in the 1980s, and she was one of the first Republicans to publicly endorse Lynch in his 2004 challenge of then-Republican Governor Craig Benson, and co-chaired Republicans for Lynch.

As the AP reports, this is hardly the first time Newman has been called upon to fill a vacancy, serving as an interim president for the University of New Hampshire in 2006 and 2007 and, during the Reagan administration, leaving her Commerce Department job to head the New Hampshire Business and Industry Association. More from the AP:

New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch selected Newman on Tuesday for her most visible job yet: to replace Judd Gregg, the new commerce secretary nominee, in the U.S. Senate. If Gregg is confirmed, Newman would finish the last two years of his Senate term but has agreed not to run for the seat in 2010.

Though she's never held elective office, Newman has held leadership positions in government, higher education and the private sector. She was Gregg's chief of staff in the 1980s, oversaw administrative operations for the White House under George H.W. Bush, served as interim president of the University of New Hampshire and was executive dean at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Newman has also served as an executive dean at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Comments

[lthuedk 1]

11:23 PM on 02/03/2009

It's always People, Country, and Constitution for you, Senator. Thank you.

[sixx]

10:13 PM on 02/03/2009

A baby step above Blago, but not fair to NH nor healthy for democracy.

[FR]

09:01 PM on 02/03/2009

Wasn't "she's never held elective office" the big bad argument used against Kennedy?
I don't see it being waved about here.

[LARRYB28]

08:53 PM on 02/03/2009

was feingold out of the country when five democrats were appointed to vacant senate seats and he only got back when a republican was appointed??

[colonpowwow]

10:45 PM on 02/03/2009

No. Senator Feingold announced a couple weeks ago (before the Gregg thing) that he will introduce a Constitutional Amendment that calls for popular election of replacement Senators in situations like Obama's, Clinton's, etc.

Next.

[rizvisa1]

05:44 AM on 02/04/2009

No he was in the country, it looks like you were out of the country. On Jan 25, 2009. Senator Fiengold released this statement
"The controversies surrounding some of the recent gubernatorial appointments to vacant Senate seats make it painfully clear that such appointments are an anachronism that must end. In 1913, the Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution gave the citizens of this country the power to finally elect their senators. They should have the same power in the case of unexpected mid term vacancies, so that the Senate is as responsive as possible to the will of the people. I plan to introduce a constitutional amendment this week to require special elections when a Senate seat is vacant, as the Constitution mandates for the House, and as my own state of Wisconsin already requires by statute. As the Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee, I will hold a hearing on this important topic soon."

[SethBLiNK]

07:40 PM on 02/03/2009

Senators are elected for six year terms. That's a long time. How many people take a job and commit for six years?

Of all the appointments, the weirdest one was Biden who actually ran for relection while he was running for VP, getting elected to an office he knew he couldn't fill.

Elections are expensive and there is no way to fill a seat other than to have an appointment. The Illinois and NY ones were screwy, but there is nothing wrong with this negotiated settlement. The balance of congress shouldn't be thrown off by the Pres making an appointment. If any law should be changed it is that the Governor of a state needs to appoint a member of the same party that the departing Senator ran on. They elected a republican Senator. They should get one.

[rizvisa1]

09:41 AM on 02/04/2009

Biden was not first. Lieberman did same in 2000. As for expenses, if a house seat is vacant there is an election, so why not for senate. On top senate seat is for 6 years where as house is only for two years. So if house can have special election, it is more feasible to have election for senate.

[viewfromuphere]

07:04 PM on 02/03/2009

I only got two words...by election....

god knows no system's perfect but I don't recall all these shenanigans in Canada when a seat falls vacant..

that said....it still looks like a good move...it is bipartisan...it again elevates a more middle of the road republican who could be more of a help than a hinderance..

doesn't look as if this tactic was going to get the out and out sixty seat majority anyway and at some point Obama needs to that cabinet picked and working...

[ripples]

06:47 PM on 02/03/2009

Think 2010 and a dem majority in the senate...the dems now have a serious chance of picking up a republican seat in NH...the tough social issues on Obamas agenda probably won't be dealt with until the last two years of his first term...Obama and his crew are always thinking beyond tomorrow and next week...a very shrewd move on their part

[kellygrrrl]

06:44 PM on 02/03/2009

as long as she accepts with the agreement that she is a seat-filler and won't run in the next election, it's fine.

[wdw505]

07:40 PM on 02/03/2009

she will run as the incumbent.......laughing

[jtackeff]

06:33 PM on 02/03/2009

Bonnie Newman is great. I am from NH. I interned for Obama, Shaheen, NHDP. She is a RINO- Republican In Name Only. She is moderately conservative on fiscal issues, but on everything else she is a down the line liberal. She also was chair of Republicans for Lynch, and I think she supported Obama. She will do a good job

[kellygrrrl]

06:45 PM on 02/03/2009

thanks. that's good to hear.

[Scoppertop]

08:38 PM on 02/03/2009

Hope you're right... Newman being Gregg's former CoS is worrisome, at least. Anything you say, boss.

[strangelet]

06:33 PM on 02/03/2009

1. I agree with Feingold that all Senate vacancies should be filled by special election (even if it costs money). However, to make this happen will require either an Amendment to the US Constitution; or every state that now permits interim appointment by the Governor will individually have to change its law.

2. I am a Democrat. The alleged Democrats who make comments complaining about how the Democratic leadership has "given in" on this point are delusional. Judd Gregg is a Republican Senator from NH whose term expires in Jan 2011. He stated, simply enough, that he would only accept the nomination to Commerce if the NH Gov agreed to name a Republican to finish his term. The ONLY possible outcomes are:

a. The NH Gov agrees, Gregg becomes Secy of Commerce, NH gets a replacement Republican Senator.

b. The NH Gov doesn't agree, Gregg withdraws and remains Republican Senator from NH, Obama has to look for another nominee for Commerce.

c. Obama "punishes" Gregg by withdrawing the nomination, Gregg remains Senator, Obama looks for another nominee.

d. The Senate Dems reject confirming Gregg, Gregg doesn't resign from the Senate and remains Senator, Obama goes looking.

NONE of these possibilities results in picking up a Democratic Senator for NH.

What would happen if the parties were reversed? Well, probably the Gov would refuse to cooperate, and the Dem Senator would withdraw (b above). So what?

d.

[wdw505]

07:11 PM on 02/03/2009

i think it is funny as hel1........because it just does not matter

[unite4change]

08:22 PM on 02/03/2009

This makes me think of Blago, maybe he was just doing what's been done time and time again without the American people knowledge.

[meede]

06:27 PM on 02/03/2009

Feingold should get a grip. Flipping out about appointments and the need for a constitutional. Well, I ask, what's Feingold been doing for the decades he's been in Washington then. Did he just wake up. Give me a break.

In my belief it should go even further. There should be term limits so these toads are turfed instead of becoming career Bubble Washington Air Bubble Breathers who continue to believe themselves above the law and go all mushy and apologetic when caught. Might be a good idea to do a tax audit on every single one of them. I can hear the coppers piling up in the Tax Department for taxes and penalties not paid and the charges flying left and right for gifts not declared.

[scjk67]

06:31 PM on 02/03/2009

oh CHILL OUT will ya, ya running on like Sarah Palin.

[dizmo4]

06:23 PM on 02/03/2009

Feingold is or has submitted a constitutional amendment requiring all Senate vacancies to be filled via special election. This serves both Republicans and Democrats as there's plenty of Republicans governors of states with democratic Senators and vise versa.

Its also a "good government" question and given the Blagojevich mess should receive broad support, especially with the Public. Good Government issues are generally non-partisan. Any Senator or Congressmen that votes against this type of Amendment would certainly face difficult re-elections ( whether it be in primaries or general) having to explain why they're against elections.

[gardengnome]

06:22 PM on 02/03/2009

It is obvious to me that very few people on this board understand New Hampshire politics. John Lynch would have torpedoed his political career if he DIDN'T appoint another Republican. He is in his last term as Gov., and he will run, and win in the Senate election in 2 years. Furthermore, Bonnie Newman, despite her Reagan admin. cred, is pretty moderate. And I wouldn't worry about her doing an about face and deciding to run for re-election in 2 years. She has done extremely well in the Republican Party behind the scenes, and I will believe she will go back behind the scenes after this term is over. And there is a very simple explanation for this. She is a lesbian. It is one of the great open secrets of my great state of New Hampshire.

[goodog]

06:18 PM on 02/03/2009

We should run everything by Feingolf as far as i'm concerned.

[courageunderfire]

06:11 PM on 02/03/2009

I agree with Feingold and believe that there ought to be an election and not have the Governor's be appointing the replacements. Are we not a government of the people and by the people?
I think it is "alarmingly undemocratic" as well. Senator Feingold, thank you for your integrity !

[scjk67]

06:20 PM on 02/03/2009

i agree with your comment and along with Feingold, but only state senate and congress can change it not the U.S. i wouldn't worry to much about Bonnie Newman, yes shes a repub but more of moderate and liberal ways, its just a (R) after her name and thank heavens she not a ultra far right winger like most of the southern senators.

[courageunderfire]

09:11 PM on 02/03/2009

I agree with you both. I wish Feingold was an advisor to Obama he is my favorite senator as well! Thank Heavens that Newman is not ala Sarah Palin extreme far right.

[biglover]

06:27 PM on 02/03/2009

Feingold is my favorite senator. He is the ultimate in brains and integrity. I wish he were an advisor to Obama