re: What happens if a candidate passes away before being elected?

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If it is after the convention, it is a somewhat unprecedented situation. I believe the theory is that the party picks the new candidate but there are limits to how successful you will be airdropping a new candidate in as opposed to moving the VP candidate up the ballot, simply because no one fricking voted for the person airdropped in.

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Just remember that is where the Electoral College steps in.


On the ballot you are not voting for President. You are voting for a set of electors to hopefully vote for that candidate for president. The electors are not beholden to the candidate they ran under, as some in the past have changed their vote as as unfaithful electors.

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That's how Jean Carnahan got appointed to Congress. Her husband died before the election, but they left his name on the ballot with the understanding that she would be appointed to take his place.

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Those laws would be dependent on the date for Senate or Congressional elections. For Senate, the governor can nominate a Senator to replace one that has died in office or resigns until the next election. That was how J Bennett Johnson got a little more seniority than his colleagues because when he was elected in 1972, he took over the remaining term of Allen Ellender who had passed away in July. Edwin Edwards nominated his wife 1st wife, Elaine Edwards, to fill the term until the election.


The House is a little more complicated and some times those seats go vacant until a new election is held.