State legislatures may also empower the governor to fill a vacancy by a temporary appointment until the winner of the special election is certified.
North Dakota, Oregon and Wisconsin do not empower their governor to make temporary appointments and require special elections.
Deval Patrick) to appoint a temporary replacement senator while awaiting the results of a special election to complete the existing term.
Hawaii allows the governor to appoint an interim senator "who serves until the next regularly-scheduled general election, chosen from a list of three prospective appointees that the prior incumbent's political party submits".
It is uncertain if the Alaska governor may successfully appoint an interim senator to serve until the mandated special election occurs 60 to 90 days after the vacancy happens.