Mass AG (And DOMA Opponent) Martha Coakley To File For Kennedy's Seat

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, who in July filed a federal challenge to DOMA, is the first candidate to request paperwork for the special January election to replace the late Ted Kennedy in the U.S. Senate.

Ms. Coakley, 56, who has not officially announced her candidacy, is required to gather 10,000 valid signatures by Oct. 20 to participate in the Dec. 8 primary. The special election for Mr. Kennedy’s seat will be held Jan. 19. The state legislature is to hold a hearing on Sept. 9 on Senator Kennedy’s request, made shortly before his death, that it change the law and allow Gov. Deval Patrick to appoint an interim senator. Mr. Patrick is a Democrat. Other people who have been mentioned as possible contenders for Mr. Kennedy’s seat include his widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, although people close to the family have said she is not interested; Mr. Kennedy’s nephew former United States Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II; former United States Representatives Michael E. Capuano, Steven F. Lynch and Edward J. Markey; and former United States Representative Martin T. Meehan, who retired in 2007 to become the chancellor at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

Coakley seems like a very strong contender, but we all know how Massachusetts feels about any Kennedy, should former Rep. Joseph II decide to run.