BOSTON — Amid fevered speculation about possible contenders for Senator Edward M. Kennedy's seat, Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday scheduled a special election for Jan. 19 and said he would keep pushing the state legislature to change the law so he could name an interim successor.
Shortly before his death last week, Mr. Kennedy wrote legislative leaders asking them to revise the law so his seat would not stay vacant for months. The legislature indicated Monday that it would decide quickly whether to grant his request, scheduling a public hearing on the proposal for Sept. 9. Many lawmakers criticized the proposal in the days before Mr. Kennedy's death, but legislative leaders, at least, have since hinted they would support it. "I don't think by any means it's a certainty that it will happen," Mr. Patrick said. "I think that they are trying to find a path from here to there to honor the very reasonable request of Senator Kennedy." Massachusetts has not had an open Senate seat since 1984, and excitement is running high about two possible candidates in particular: Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Mr. Kennedy's widow, and Joseph P. Kennedy II, his nephew. On Sunday, two senators who are friends of the Kennedy family, Christopher J. Dodd, Democrat of Connecticut, and Orrin G. Hatch, Republican of Utah, said Mrs. Kennedy would be a formidable successor. Despite their comments, she reiterated on Monday that she was not interested in the seat, people close to the family said. Joseph Kennedy, 56, a former congressman from Massachusetts, has $2 million in leftover campaign money. At a memorial service for his uncle last week, he spoke of the importance of public service and of chasing "the same goals and ideals that Senator Ted Kennedy lived his life for." Friends say he is still considering whether to run. Other possible contenders include Representatives Michael E. Capuano, Stephen F. Lynch and Edward J. Markey; the state attorney general, Martha Coakley; and former Representative Martin T. Meehan, who retired in 2007 to become chancellor of the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. Mr. Patrick ruled himself out as a candidate on Monday, saying he was focused on winning re-election next year. Joseph Kennedy, who served in the House of Representatives from 1987 to 1999, runs the Citizens Energy Corporation, a nonprofit organization he founded to provide affordable heating oil to low-income families. Although the seat will almost certainly go to a Democrat, several Republicans are also said to be interested in running, including Kerry Healey, who was lieutenant governor under Gov. Mitt Romney, and Michael J. Sullivan, until recently the United States attorney in Massachusetts. The primary for the seat will be held Dec. 8. The legislature reconvenes after Labor Day. Soon after, Congress may vote on health care reform — which Mr. Kennedy called "the cause of my life" — and the legislation's fate could hinge on whether a successor is in place in time for the vote. Multimedia
This article ties to what we are learning in American government becasue it has to do with congress. Mr. Kennedy was in congress but then he died so they are looking for a new congress men. They could loose some votes in things like the health care reform because Kennedy is now gone and no one is there to vote for him. In Government we learn about congress and what happens when they are looking for a new person to fill the spot for someone in congress. We learn about what congress does and how it helps our country. This article also talks about who they are looking for to fill Mr. Kennedys spot.
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