Knocking On Wood Out West

Over the last 100 years, all but four states have had at least one U.S. Senator die in office with 41 states losing a member of its delegation to the nation’s upper legislative chamber on the job since the end of World War II. Just two states – Arizona and Utah – have never endured the death of a sitting Senator, and are also the only two states in the nation never to hold a special election to the chamber. Delaware’s last such passing took place in 1867 (Democrat George Riddle) and Maryland’s in 1912 (Democrat Isidor Rayner) – one year before direct election of members to the chamber was instituted in all states with the 17th Amendment.