Republican legislators in Kentucky are working to ensure Gov. Andy Beshear (D-KY) is stripped of his power to fill a Senate vacancy amid Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) decision to step down from his post as the upper chamber’s GOP leader.

The state House Elections, Constitutional Amendments, and Intergovernmental Affairs Committee voted on Thursday to advance HB 622, which would only permit the governor to call for a special election to fill a Senate vacancy as is done with the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation is being led by state House GOP Leader Steven Rudy, who denies the effort is a response to McConnell stepping down from leadership.