BOSTON — For the first time in nearly half a century, Massachusetts voters will be handed ballots for the U.S. Senate seat held by Sen. Edward Kennedy without his name on them.
Kennedy’s death leaves little mourning time for the dozen or more Senate hopefuls who face a five-month dash to Election Day.
State law requires a special election no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after a vacancy occurs. (The law bans an interim appointee.) In this case, the election must be held either the last two weeks of January or the first week of February.
Kennedy held his seat for 47 years. Fellow Democratic Sen. John Kerry was elected in 1984.
“No one will replace Ted Kennedy in their first year, but Democrats at least want someone who reflects his basic policy positions,” said Julian Zelizer, professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University.
Despite speculation that Kennedy’s wife, Vicki, could assume his Senate seat, family aides have said she is not interested. One of Kennedy’s nephews, former Rep. Joseph Kennedy II, also has been suggested as a candidate. He heads Citizens Energy, a nonprofit that distributes discounted heating oil to the poor.
Other potential Democratic contenders include state Attorney General Martha Coakley and several congressmen. One former Democratic member of Congress, Martin Meehan, also has been named as a potential candidate. Now chancellor of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, Meehan still has nearly $5 million in his federal campaign account.
Republicans face an even tougher climb in a state that leans heavily Democratic.
Potential candidates include Cape Cod businessman Jeff Beatty, former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, state Sen. Scott Brown, and Chris Egan, former U.S. ambassador to the Organization for Cooperation and Development.
In a recent letter to lawmakers, Kennedy said the special-election law should be changed to allow the governor to appoint someone to serve in the Senate during the course of the election — provided that person pledges not to run for the seat.
“It is vital for this commonwealth to have two voices speaking for the needs of its citizens and two votes in the Senate during the approximately five months between a vacancy and an election,” Kennedy wrote.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Gov. Deval Patrick called the proposal “a reasonable idea” and said he would sign the bill if it reached his desk.
State Senate President Therese Murray and House Speaker Robert DeLeo, both Democrats, haven’t said whether they back the change.
DeLeo said there would probably be a public hearing on the issue within the next month.
Funeral Saturday, burial in Arlington
Kennedy’s funeral will take place Saturday at a historic Boston church, and he will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, where his two slain brothers are interred, according to his office. A White House official said President Barack Obama would deliver a eulogy.
