Who would replace Al Franken?
By Rebecca Berg, Eric Bradner and Jeff Zeleny, CNN
Updated 6:23 PM ET, Wed December 6, 2017
(CNN)Should Sen. Al Franken decide to step down, his resignation would set up a gubernatorial appointment and open up a new Senate battleground in 2018.
Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton does not plan to get ahead of Franken's scheduled announcement Thursday, a senior Minnesota Democrat close to Dayton told CNN, but the governor's "expectation and hope is for Franken to resign."
Should Franken step down, top names to replace him are Democratic Reps. Keith Ellison and Tim Walz, this official said. Another leading contender will be Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, a former chief of staff to Dayton.
"Don't overlook Lt. Governor Smith," the official said. "She could be the perfect choice."
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http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/06/politics/al-franken-replacement/index.html