Sen. Al Franken
Alan (Al) Stuart FrankenDemocrats turn on Al Franken Schumer called, met with Franken and told him to resign Overnight Finance: Trump says shutdown 'could happen' | Ryan, conservatives inch closer to spending deal | Senate approves motion to go to tax conference | Ryan promises 'entitlement reform' in 2018 MORE (D-Minn.) officially submitted his resignation on Tuesday after being pressured late last year to step down in the face of sexual misconduct allegations.
“I am grateful to Minnesotans for giving me the chance to serve our state and our nation, and I am proud to have worked on their behalf,” Franken wrote in the letter to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D).
Sen. Al Franken’s letter of resignation to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton.
— Jennifer Brooks (@stribrooks) January 2, 2018
Franken resigned at noon today, Minnesota time. pic.twitter.com/L2ziNolEZG
Franken’s replacement, Lt. Gov. Tina Smith (D), will be sworn in on Wednesday.
However, after roughly two dozen of his Democratic colleagues called on him to step down, Franken announced in a defiant floor speech that he would step away from the Senate, eventually giving a timeframe of early January.
Dayton picked Smith to temporarily fill Franken’s seat until voters could choose a successor during a special election in November. However, Smith said she intends to run later this year to serve the remaining two years of Franken’s term.
She is unlikely to face a primary challenge after prominent Minnesota Democrats, including Reps. Keith Ellison
Keith Maurice EllisonDemocrats turn on Al Franken The nearly 60 Dems who voted for impeachment Franken resignation could upend Minnesota races MORE and Tim Walz
Timothy (Tim) James WalzFranken resignation could upend Minnesota races Franken offers bill to reduce VA backlog Bill calls for CFPB inspector general MORE, announced they would support Smith’s candidacy.
Republicans have yet to settle on a front-runner for the special election, though some have floated former Gov. Tim Pawlenty as a possibility.
The 2018 special election will determine who serves out the remaining two years of Franken’s term. The winner of this year’s race would have to run again in 2020 to earn a full, six-year term.