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Although this has never happened in OTL, if someone in the presidential line of succession below the Vice-President (i.e. the Speaker of the House and below) ends up assuming the Presidency, this triggers a special election to be held in November of that year. (Unless it happens in October, in which case the special election happens in November the following year.) Whoever wins that special election is elected to a full four-year term, resetting the Presidential election cycle.

In OTL, Vice-President Spiro Agnew resigned in October 1973 due to a bribery scandal, and Gerald Ford was appointed to replace him under the 25th Amendment in December of that year. President Richard Nixon then resigned in August 1974 due to the Watergate scandal, making Ford the President.

But, what if Nixon resigned before a replacement Vice-President was appointed? Maybe Agnew resigned later, or Nixon resigned earlier, or there was no 25th Amendment in TTL leaving the office of Vice-President vacant. But either way, Speaker of the House Carl Albert (D) would become President and a special election would be called for November 1974.

So, who would be the candidates? Who would win?
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