Democratic Governor Joe Manchin appointed Carte Goodwin to temporarily fill the vacancy.

Manchin won the open seat and served out the remainder of Byrd's elected term, which ended on January 3, 2013.

[1] Byrd had held his seat in the U.S. Senate since 1959, after having served in the House of Representatives since 1953, making him the then-longest-serving person in Congress.

[4] State law allowed Governor Joe Manchin to make a temporary appointment to the vacant seat.

[6] Manchin urged the West Virginia Legislature to pass legislation scheduling the special election for 2010.

[7] On July 19, legislators hammered out a compromise bill setting an Aug 28 special primary and Nov 2 special election to elect a senator for the roughly two years and five months remaining in Byrd's term.

[31] Raese criticized Manchin for supporting House Bill 103, which is similar to cap and trade.