Weren't there some male senators/congressmen who died, and then their governor appointed the wife to finish the term?
Yes, this practice, known as widow's succession or the widow's mandate, was a primary method for women to enter the U.S. Congress during the 20th century. While House vacancies must be filled by special election, Senate vacancies can be filled by gubernatorial appointment until an election is held, allowing governors to appoint the deceased senator's wife.
Senate Appointments Following the passage of the 19th Amendment, it became common for governors to appoint widows to fill their late husbands' Senate terms. Notable examples include Hattie Caraway of Arkansas, appointed in 1931, who became the first woman elected to the Senate in her own right, and Jean Carnahan of Missouri, appointed in 2000 after her husband won a posthumous election. The very first woman to serve in the Senate, Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia, was appointed in 1922 to fill a vacancy, though she served only one day.
House Successions In the House of Representatives, wives could not be appointed but frequently won the required special elections to succeed their husbands. Mae Ellen Nolan became the first woman to do so in 1923 following the death of her husband, John Nolan. Historical data indicates that of the nearly 50 widows who entered Congress this way, about half served more than four years, with some, like Edith Nourse Rogers, building lengthy independent careers. As of 2025, 45 women have directly succeeded their late husbands in Congress, comprising 38 in the House and eight in the Senate.
Just like Fetterman's wife fleeing when he had a stroke.
Bingo.
He ded.
Weren't there some male senators/congressmen who died, and then their governor appointed the wife to finish the term?
Yes, this practice, known as widow's succession or the widow's mandate, was a primary method for women to enter the U.S. Congress during the 20th century. While House vacancies must be filled by special election, Senate vacancies can be filled by gubernatorial appointment until an election is held, allowing governors to appoint the deceased senator's wife.
Senate Appointments Following the passage of the 19th Amendment, it became common for governors to appoint widows to fill their late husbands' Senate terms. Notable examples include Hattie Caraway of Arkansas, appointed in 1931, who became the first woman elected to the Senate in her own right, and Jean Carnahan of Missouri, appointed in 2000 after her husband won a posthumous election. The very first woman to serve in the Senate, Rebecca Latimer Felton of Georgia, was appointed in 1922 to fill a vacancy, though she served only one day.
House Successions In the House of Representatives, wives could not be appointed but frequently won the required special elections to succeed their husbands. Mae Ellen Nolan became the first woman to do so in 1923 following the death of her husband, John Nolan. Historical data indicates that of the nearly 50 widows who entered Congress this way, about half served more than four years, with some, like Edith Nourse Rogers, building lengthy independent careers. As of 2025, 45 women have directly succeeded their late husbands in Congress, comprising 38 in the House and eight in the Senate.
I guess the money will stop......
Maybe she had to get her ass over there quick to assure them she'd come through on finishing what he got paid to do.