BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - The Senate is slated to vote on a bill Monday that would prohibit the governor from appointing a successor to a vacant North Dakota congressional seat.
Republican Rep. Roscoe Streyle introduced the bill, which is response to a rumored gubernatorial bid next year by popular freshman Democratic U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp.
She's been mum on the subject.
The House passed the so-called Heitkamp bill in February and passed it on to the Senate.
Streyle says the goal is to allow voters to choose the successor instead of the governor.
North Dakota law already requires a special election if the state's lone U.S. House seat is vacated.
Heitkamp is the only Democrat holding a statewide office in North Dakota. She unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2000.