As most of you know, Sen. Craig Thomas (R-WY) died Monday night while undergoing a second round of treatment for acute myeloid leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Thomas had been reelected for a third term in the senate only last November.

Now, a number of readers have written in to ask why it is that though the state's governor, Dave Freudenthal, is a Democrat, he'll be appointing a Republican to replace Thomas in the senate. The reason has to do with Wyoming's unique law governing the appointment of senators, which we explain here.

TPM extends our condolences and best wishes to Thomas's family, friends and supporters.