How will Democrats fill the seat vacated by Senator Edward Kennedy? His death has costs the party its much needed and hard fought for 60th seat in the Senate. Quickly replacing Kennedy is necessary to push through the White House’s planned overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system and other reforms
Massachusetts law would leave the seat open for five months at which time a special election could be held. But, as he was dying, Kennedy asked state lawmakers to allow Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to name a temporary replacement.
Of course, having 60 senate seats has not ushered in a new era of legislative ease for Democrats. The party has had to compromise with Republicans on key bills so far, most notably regarding credit card reform and the seemingly lost battle for a single payer option.
Who is is a likely replacement? Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Wednesday he would support changing state law to allow him to appoint an interim successor to Sen. Edward Kennedy’s seat while a special election is held. And unlike most states, a successor to a vacant U.S. Senate seat in Massachusetts is chosen by special election, not appointed by the governor.
Primaries must be held six weeks before the special election, giving Democratic and Republican candidates little more than three months to campaign for their party’s nomination.
Potential Democratic contenders include state Attorney General Martha Coakley, who would be the first woman elected to the Senate from Massachusetts. Several congressmen are also in the running, including Reps. Stephen Lynch, Michael Capuano, Edward Markey, James McGovern and William Delahunt.
A former Democratic member of Congress, Martin Meehan, is also a potential candidate, according to multiple sources. Presently chancellor of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Meehan still has nearly $5 million in his federal account.