WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. Judd Gregg has told colleagues that if he becomes commerce secretary, his replacement would affiliate with the GOP, denying Democrats total dominance, his party leader said Sunday.
That would require an agreement involving President Barack Obama, who would appoint Gregg to his Cabinet, and New Hampshire Democratic Gov. John Lynch, who would name Gregg’s successor to the Senate. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky suggested such an arrangement was in the works.
“Sen. Gregg has assured me that if this were to happen . . . it would not change the makeup of the Senate,” McConnell said on “Face the Nation” on CBS. “In other words, whoever is appointed to replace him would caucus with Senate Republicans, so I think it would have no impact on the balance of power in the Senate.”
Lynch’s spokesman, Colin Manning, declined comment on any agreement, saying only “this situation is still between the White House and Sen. Gregg.” Gregg spokeswoman Laena Fallon had no comment on McConnell’s statement.
Replacing Gregg with someone other than a Democrat willing to side with the party would deny Democrats the legislative dominance they seek in the Senate. Sixty votes are required to end debate in the 100-member chamber, but Democrats have just 56 seats, plus two independents who caucus with them.
In spite of being in the minority, Republicans can bottle up legislation through a filibuster as long as they retain at least 41 votes. The outcome of Minnesota’s disputed Senate contest would decide the matter.
Officials say Obama is set to make Gregg his third Republican Cabinet official as early as today.
