The change means a new Senator has to be from the same party as the old one.
He obviously could not bear the thought of having to begin again, at his age, with a new Senator.
Most of the new Republican senators elected last week will take office next year.
The custom for new senators was to be seen and not heard.
Or, more creatively yet, maybe one new senator could just stop talking for a while.
"Too often now," he wrote, "it seems to me that new senators only get to know the members of their own party."
The election was the fourth time since 1961 that the state has chosen a new senator.
"I am sure that my lead will hold, and the people will have a new senator."
If successful, the new senator would face another fight two years later for a full six-year term.
The biggest difference between the old and new Senators of both parties may be more in their styles.