In July of that year, the Democrat-controlled legislature changed the law to require a special election to keep Romney from appointing a Republican. Then Kerry lost the election to incumbent President George W. Bush, 63.
In his July 2 letter, Kennedy said he supports the current law and asked that Governor Deval Patrick choose an interim replacement who has made “an explicit personal commitment not to become a candidate in the special election.”
A special election opens the door for a political free-for- all because any House member who wants to run can avoid a conflict with the next official congressional election in 2010. Many also expect that Massachusetts will lose a House seat during the next Census, providing another incentive.“All of them could run without risking their current spots,” said Democratic Party Chairman John Walsh.
Regardless of what happens with the law, the race for Kennedy’s seat will turn into a “mad scramble,” said Paul Watanabe, political science professor at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.“There is little turnover in the Massachusetts delegation and therefore, for those who want to move up, there are going to be a lot of suitors,” Watanabe said.
Advantage for Lawmakers
Massachusetts law prohibits state election funds being used for federal campaigns, giving the congressmen an upper hand over potential candidates such as Coakley.Republicans, who represented about 12 percent of registered Massachusetts voters in 2008, haven’t elected a U.S. senator in the state since 1972. Their only chance may be a Democratic divide.
While some say the Kennedys aren’t as powerful as they once were, Walsh said the family would loom large.“The Kennedys probably have as strong or stronger a relation with voters than they do with politicians,” he said. “Massachusetts voters have had a very long and productive and positive experience with electing members of the Kennedy family, and what that’s meant for our state is real.”
In regards to politics there goes the 60th vote for health care and if the special election is 145-160 days from now we are looking at a delay that could be 5-6 months before the Democrats get another vote in the senate. Of course the reconciliation option is open but color me skeptical that the Democrats could or even would pull it off.
Update, who might run:
That list is headed by several elected officeholders, including Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, who commissioned a poll late last year when it appeared Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) could be taking a position in the Obama administration.
Several members in the state’s all-Democratic Congressional delegation are expected to consider a campaign, with Bay State insiders pointing to Reps. Michael Capuano (D-Mass.) and Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) as the most likely to run in a special election.
There’s also a chance a Kennedy will be on the special election ballot, with Joseph Kennedy II expected to consider running for his late uncle’s seat.
On a side note this makes John Kerry Senior Senator for the state.
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