Victoria Kennedy would become 39th female to serve in U.S. Senate, if appointed or elected

AP: Victoria Kennedy arrives in Washington D.C. on Aug. 29.

The Politico said she isn’t interested. NPR says she is. Regardless of who is right, Victoria Reggie Kennedy is likely high on the list of potential replacements for Massachusetts senior Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who was laid to rest Saturday, Aug. 29 at Arlington National Cemetery just outside of Washington, D.C.

If appointed as interim senator or elected to the unexpired term, Mrs. Kennedy would be the 39th female to serve in the U.S. Senate. She would be the first woman to represent Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate.

Up until the death and burial of Sen. Kennedy, who she married in 1992, Mrs. Kennedy reportedly said that she had no interest in the seat, even as a temporary replacement. Now it has been reported that she is "very much interested" in being considered.

Sen. Kennedy was diagnosed in May 2008 with an inoperable malignant glioma. Mrs. Kennedy has spent the past 15 months taking care of her husband as he underwent agressive treatments to beat the diagnosis.

Kennedy reportedly wanted his wife to take over his seat. If she had any reservations, Kennedy’s skills in oratory likely were still strong enough this past year to convince her of the importance of "carrying the torch" and using her talents to work toward domestic and international legislation important to Massachusetts voters.

The triumphs and tragedies of the Kennedy family have played out dramatically in America for decades. Political commentors these past few days have said that the death of the last of the four Kennedy brothers marks the end of an era of Kennedy leadership in American government. But America loves the Kennedy story and with Mrs. Kennedy, young, experienced and available for service, it doesn't have to end.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has set Jan. 19, 2010 as the date of a special election to fill Kennedy's seat. The state's election committee also has announced that it will hold a hearing, Sept. 9 to determine if it can amend state law to temporarily fill the office until the election.

If Mrs. Kennedy wants the temporary seat, it likely is hers for the asking. A lawyer with expertise in banking legislation, a firm grasp on Sen. Kennedy's and the state of Massachusetts' political leanings, and a loyal staff in Washington, D.C. and Boston are her assets.

Women in the Senate

If Mrs. Kennedy is either appointed to fill the seat temporarily or wins the special election next year, she would take on the office in the manner in which several women came to Congress' upper chamber. Before the year 2000 the best chance a female had to become a senator was if her well-regarded husband passed away while serving in office and the wife was either appointed to fill the seat until a special election or elected to serve the remainder of his term.There are a few instances of women being appointed to the office by a husband who had the authority to fill a vacant seat after a death. 

Seventeen women now serve as Senators in the 111th Congress.

In the 233 years since our country’s birth, 38 women have served in the U.S. Senate. The current 111th Congress is composed of 17 female senators, the highest number in our government’s history.

Rebecca Latimer Felton (D-GA) was the first woman to serve in the Senate. Appointed in 1922 to fill the unexpired term of a senator who had died in office, she served one day.

Nine women have been appointed to fill vacancies caused by the death of their husbands. One woman was appointed to fill the seat after her father died. The numbers have shifted in recent years with 23 women elected to a full six-year term after campaigning for the office.

While Mrs. Kennedy's connection to Massachusetts was formed largely through her marriage and her family's friendship with the Kennedy's, her connection to Washington and with the Democratic Party make her a choice selection for seamless transition into the office.

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton survived claims of "carpet bagging," (campaigning to represent a state without having been a resident)  when she sought to represent New York. The Clintons moved to Chappaqua, NY at the end of President Bill Clinton's second term in the White House. (Clinton was born in Illinois and before the White House, lived in Arkansas with then Governor Bill Clinton.)

It isn’t likely that claims of "carpet bagging" would be the tactic for any challengers to Mrs. Kennedy. If appointed to fill the seat until the special election, it remains to be seen if Mrs. Kennedy would retain the same committee assignments and senority status as Sen. Kennedy.

To learn more about the women serving in the U.S. Senate during the 109th Congress, check out 14 Women, a film by Mary Lambert. With the opening of that legislative session, the number of women in the U.S. Senate increased from nine to fourteen.Watch  the trailer now.