Oct. 25, 2002 -- Minnesota Sen. Paul Wellstone's name will be replaced on the Nov. 5 ballot according to state officials and Democratic party leaders. Wellstone, a two-term Democratic senator seeking reelection, was killed in an Oct. 25 plane crash in northern Minnesota.

"State law allows the governor to fill a vacant Senate seat, but also allows a political party to appoint a replacement in the event of a death of a nominee. The name must be offered within seven days of the death and at least four days before an election," the Associated Press reported on Oct. 25.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune reported that Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer said the state will allow Democrats to place a new candidate's name on the ballot. The secretary did not say how the state would handle absentee ballots that have already been mailed to voters.

It would be "to the party's advantage to act quickly,'' said state Attorney General Mike Hatch.

Hatch said a new appointee would only serve until election day. Some news reports, however, said an appointee would serve until January, when Wellstone's term would have ended.

At a news conference on the afternoon of Oct. 25, Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura said he wasn't ready to consider a replacement. Ventura would only say he would not consider appointing himself to the post.

State Democratic party spokesman "Bill Amberg said he was confident the party would be allowed to offer a replacement. Rebecca Yanisch, the state trade commissioner who ran for Senate in 2000, indicated she might be interested," the AP reported.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reported that state elections officials plan to create a separate ballot for the U.S. Senate race.