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Special Election For Kennedy’s Senate Seat Set For Jan. 19
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has chosen Jan. 19 as the date to hold the special election for the Senate seat of Ted Kennedy. The Democratic governor also called on state lawmakers to allow him to appoint an interim replacement for the seat, a request Kennedy made in his final days.
In a press conference, Patrick designated the third Tuesday of next year for the special ballot and said he expects a “robust and substantive campaign.”
The election will be the first one for an open Senate seat in the state since Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) won his first term in 1984. Kennedy, who succumbed to cancer and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery over the weekend, has held his seat since winning a 1961 special election to fill the vacancy from his brother John’s ascension to the White House.
Patrick made clear he “wholly support the special election and the Democratic process to fill the remaining two years of Sen. Kennedy’s term. But he also warned that the state will not be fully represented in the Senate in the five months before the special election.
“The issues before the nation are historic: from healthcare reform to jobs bills to climate change and education,” the Governor said.”The Congress is debating some of the most historic and significant legislation in decades, bound to affect all of us for decades… I will continue to work with the legislature on legislation authorizing an interim appointment.”
Calling Kennedy’s request a “modest change” in state law, the Governor made an appeal, “The proposal to me seems reasonable and wise. I hope the members of the legislature, regardless of their party affiliation, will see that too and consider utmost the interests of our citizens and being represented in Washington continuously.”
Secretary of State William Galvin has announced a full calendar for the election, with the primaries set for Dec. 8.
A week before he passed away, Kennedy had written Massachusetts lawmakers to ask that state law be amended so the governor could appoint someone to his vacant seat in the months before an election. The power of the governor to make such appointments was taken away in 2004, when state Democrats passed an amendment to keep then-Gov. Mitt Romney from appointing a Republican for the seat of Kerry, who eventually lost the presidential election and remained in the Senate.
Republicans, understandably, oppose Kennedy’s request, which state lawmakers plan to take up when they return from recess next week.
Jennifer Nassour, chairperson of the Massachusetts GOP has said, “The integrity of a representative republic is bigger than any person or legacy. We must honor Senator Kennedy’s service by allowing those who sent him to the Senate to decide the next generation of leaders for Massachusetts… rather than leave any succession to the whims of a small group of politicians.”
Much anticipation surrounds whether the Kennedys will seek to keep the seat in their family. Pundits are focusing on 56-year-old former Rep. Joseph Kennedy II, son of Robert Kennedy, as the most qualified candidate for the special election. Former Gov. Michael Dukakis, the 1988 Democratic presidential nominee, has been mentioned as an ideal interim replacement.
Vicki Kennedy, the late senator’s wife, has expressed no interest in either running or being appointed despite receiving what ostensibly is an endorsement from Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who calls himself Kennedy’s top Republican friend.
Hatch, who partnered with Kennedy to author many bills notably the 1997 State Children’s Health Insurance Program, said on CNN over the weekend, “Vicki ought to be considered. She’s a very brilliant lawyer. She’s a very solid individual. She certainly made a difference in Ted’s life. And I have nothing but great respect for her.”
Kennedy made his request his last week, apparently concerned that his passing would leave a Democratic majority vulnerable with only 59 votes, one short to overcome Republican filibusters against one or all of five healthcare reform proposals in Congress. His absence on Capitol Hill since earlier this year had impeded negotiations, and his close friend Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) had temporarily assumed the chairmanship of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on his behalf.
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