Whoever is selected to fill the unexpired term of District 1 State Senator Ben Gilmore could come through a special election or a convention of the respective political parties.
According to state law, once the governor formally declares a legislative office to be vacant to the respective political parties, the state committees of those parties must notify the governor within 10 days as to whether the party prefers a special primary election or a convention of delegates to determine a nominee.
Should the parties decide to hold a special election, state law requires the governor to set the special election date no more than 150 days after the vacancy, unless the governor “determines (the date to be) impracticable or unduly burdensome,” according to the law.