Joe Kennedy III
Joe Kennedy III | |
---|---|
United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland | |
Assumed office December 19, 2022 | |
President | Joe Biden |
Preceded by | Mick Mulvaney (2021) |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts's 4th district | |
In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021 | |
Preceded by | Barney Frank |
Succeeded by | Jake Auchincloss |
Personal details | |
Born | Joseph Patrick Kennedy III October 4, 1980 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse |
Lauren Birchfield (m. 2012) |
Children | 2 |
Parent |
|
Relatives | Kennedy family |
Education | Stanford University (BS) Harvard University (JD) |
Signature | |
Joseph Patrick Kennedy III (born October 4, 1980) is an American politician and diplomat who currently serves as United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland since 2022. Prior to this, Kennedy served as the U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 4th congressional district from 2013 to 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, he represented a district that extends from Boston's western suburbs to the state's South Coast. He worked as an assistant district attorney in the Cape and Islands and Middlesex County, Massachusetts, offices before his election to Congress. In January 2021, he became a CNN commentator.[1]
A member of the Kennedy family, he is a son of U.S. Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II, a grandson of U.S. Senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, a grandnephew of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, and a great-grandson of U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.
Born in Boston, Kennedy was raised in the area with his twin brother, Matthew Rauch Kennedy. After graduating from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree, he spent two years in the Dominican Republic as a member of the Peace Corps, before earning a Juris Doctor at Harvard Law School in 2009. He resigned from his role as assistant district attorney in early 2012 to run for the U.S. House of Representatives seat held by the retiring Barney Frank. Kennedy was sworn into office in January 2013, and sat on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In 2020, rather than run for re-election to his House seat, Kennedy unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Senator
In December 2022, Kennedy was named the United States Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs by President Biden.[8]
Early life and career
Kennedy was born on October 4, 1980,
After graduating from
fraternity.After graduating in 2003, Kennedy joined the
Entry into law and politics
In April 2006, Kennedy returned to
After earning his Juris Doctor in 2009, Kennedy was hired at the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office as an assistant district attorney (ADA). He considered running for the Cape-based U.S. House seat held by retiring Rep. Bill Delahunt in early 2010 but decided against it.[19] In September 2011, he joined the Middlesex County, Massachusetts District Attorney's Office, also as an ADA.[20] He resigned several months later, in preparation for the announcement that he would seek political office.[21]
U.S. House of Representatives
Elections
2012
In January 2012, Kennedy announced he would form an exploratory committee to run in the newly redrawn 4th congressional district of Massachusetts.[21][22] Kennedy explained, "I will then begin to reach out to the people of the Fourth District, in order to hear directly from them about the challenges they are facing and their ideas on how we can restore fairness to our system. I will make a final decision about entering the race in the weeks thereafter."[23][24]
He officially entered the election in February 2012.[25] In an announcement video, Kennedy declared, "I believe this country was founded on a simple idea: that every person deserves to be treated fairly, by each other and by their government".[26] In the same video, Kennedy vowed to fight for a "fair job plan", a "better educational system", a "fair tax code", and a "fair housing policy".[26]
While several Democratic candidates had prepared to enter the race, the field nearly cleared once Kennedy announced his candidacy. His family roots made him the overwhelming favorite among Massachusetts Democrats.
2014
In the 2014 election, Kennedy ran unopposed in the primary and general elections. On November 4, 2014, he was re-elected to a second term with 184,158 votes (98%).[30]
2016
In 2016, after running unopposed in the Democratic primary, Kennedy was re-elected to a third term, defeating Republican David Rosa by more than 40 percentage points.[31]
2018
Kennedy was mentioned as a potential candidate for the
Committee assignments |
---|
115th Congress (2017–19)[34] |
|
Tenure
Kennedy was sworn into the
During a February science committee hearing, Kennedy questioned
On July 24, 2013, Kennedy was one of seven members of the
Kennedy was a member of the
Response to the 2018 State of the Union
On January 26, 2018, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that Kennedy would deliver the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's 2018 State of the Union address.[45][46] His selection came after criticism that the Democratic Party had relied too heavily on its oldest leaders since the 2016 presidential election. In choosing Kennedy, the party was seen as trying to bridge the gap with a new face attached to one of the most famous names in American politics.[47] On January 30, he gave the response to television cameras and a live studio audience in the automotive body shop of Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School at Fall River, Massachusetts.[48] The location was meant to emphasize the role immigrants have in American society. He spent the opening minutes of his speech boasting about the economy and industrial history of Fall River, a city in his district. His audience included Diman Regional Technical School students. He praised Black Lives Matter, and spoke in Spanish about children who were brought into the United States illegally when they were minors.[49] He also took numerous swings at Trump, criticizing the Department of Justice for "rolling back civil rights by the day" and attacking the administration for "targeting the very idea that we are all worthy of protection".[50] He accused Trump of turning American life "into a zero-sum game",[50] and said that Democrats intended to aid the middle and lower classes. He closed by characterizing the state of the union as "hopeful, resilient, enduring".[50]
2020 U.S. Senate campaign
On August 26, 2019, Kennedy announced he was considering a primary challenge against incumbent Senator Ed Markey, and on September 21, he formally announced his candidacy. He announced that he would not seek re-election, instead challenging Markey in the Democratic primary for the 2020 United States Senate election in Massachusetts.[51][52] On September 1, 2020, Markey defeated him in the Democratic primary. Kennedy became the first member of his family to lose an election in Massachusetts.[53][54][55]
His defeat was widely attributed to his inability to explain his reasons for running. Additionally, Markey had strength among progressives and younger voters, buoyed by active youth involvement. Kennedy was endorsed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, while Markey had the support of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, former Vice-President Al Gore, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the youth-led Sunrise Movement, and The Boston Globe.[56][57] The race was considered a showdown between the Democratic establishment and its new and growing progressive wing, although the lines between the two were blurred, as Kennedy was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, endorsed by many members, and Markey had been in Congress 43 years at the time.[58][59]
Biden administration
United States Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs
On December 19, 2022, President Biden announced Kennedy would replace Mick Mulvaney as U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland. Mulvaney retired in 2021.[60]
Although not strictly a diplomatic role, he is the fifth Kennedy family member to serve as a diplomat/foreign envoy. Cousin
Political positions
Civil rights
Kennedy has co-sponsored legislation to study
Marijuana legalization
Kennedy helped raise funds in 2016 for the defeat of
Climate change
Kennedy co-sponsored the
Racial inequality
Kennedy has helped pass legislation to guarantee access to STEM and vocational education, and co-sponsored legislation to eliminate most student debt. He has also co-sponsored legislation to reduce racial discrimination in housing, favors increasing the portion of federal grants earmarked for minority-owned small businesses, and supports criminal justice reform.[68][non-primary source needed]
Health care
Kennedy supports strengthening
Electoral history
Year | Democrat | Republican | 3rd party | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Candidate | Votes | Pct. | Candidate | Votes | Pct. | Candidate | Party | Votes | Pct. | |
2012 | Joseph P. Kennedy III | 221,303 | 61.1% | Sean D. Bielat
|
129,936 | 35.9% | David A. Rosa | Independent
|
10,741 | 3.0% |
2014 | Joseph P. Kennedy III (incumbent) | 184,158 | 97.9% | (no candidate) | write-ins | 3,940 | 2.1% | |||
2016 | Joseph P. Kennedy III (incumbent) | 265,823 | 70.1% | David A. Rosa | 113,055 | 29.8% | write-ins | 335 | 0.1% | |
2018 | Joseph P. Kennedy III (incumbent) | 245,289 | 97.7% | (no candidate) | write-ins | 5,727 | 2.3% |
Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Ed Markey (incumbent) | 782,694 | 55.35 | |
Democratic | Joseph P. Kennedy III | 629,359 | 44.51 | |
Total votes | 100.0% |
Personal life
Kennedy married
Kennedy's net worth is about $43 million, which made him among the wealthiest members of Congress.[77]
See also
References
- ^ Lisa Kashinsky (January 29, 2021). "Joe Kennedy becomes CNN commentator". Boston Herald. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
- ^ Murray, Stephanie (September 2020). "Markey defeats Kennedy, Neal wins in Massachusetts". Politico. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- Hugh D. Auchincloss
- ^ Goodwin, Liz; McGrane, Victoria (February 15, 2021). "Jake Auchincloss swings left in Congress amid lingering progressive skepticism". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved March 8, 2021.
- ^ McGrane, Victoria. "After Senate defeat, Joe Kennedy III plots new path in politics". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ Kashinsky, Lisa (January 29, 2021). "Joe Kennedy becomes CNN commentator". BostonHerald.com. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ "President Biden Appoints Members to President's Commission on White House Fellowships". The White House. June 4, 2021.
- ^ Blinken, Antony. "Announcement of Joe Kennedy III as U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs". State Department. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ "Kennedy, Joseph P. III". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- ^ Edith Zimmerman (September 12, 2012). "Keeping Up With the Kennedys". The New York Times.
- ^ a b c d e f Jacobs, Sally (March 17, 2012). "For the Kennedy clan, he is Generation Next". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Vosk, Stephanie (February 28, 2010). "Not your average Joe (Kennedy)". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013.
- ^ a b "Massachusetts, 4th House District". National Journal. November 6, 2012.
- ^ "Why NBA center Jason Collins is coming out now". Sports Illustrated. April 29, 2013.
- ^ Pollock, Alan (May 7, 2009). "Joseph P. Kennedy III Urges Young People To Act Locally, And Globally". The Cape Cod Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013.
- ^ a b "Kennedy Joins Middlesex District Attorney's Office". Office of the Middlesex District Attorney. August 24, 2011. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2013.
- ^ "Joseph Kennedy III joins Middlesex DA's Office". The MetroWest Daily News. August 24, 2011. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
- ^ Newburger, Emily (2012). "The Next Generation". Alumni Pursuits. Harvard Law School.
- ^ Vosk, Stephanie (March 1, 2010). "Joseph Kennedy III says he won't seek seat". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on January 15, 2012.
- ^ Jessica Venezia Pastore & Stephanie Chelf Guyotte (August 24, 2011). "Middlesex District Attorney". Middlesexda.com. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved January 28, 2012.
- ^ a b Phillips, Frank (January 5, 2012). "Joseph P. Kennedy III, family scion, explores run for Barney Frank's House seat | Boston.com". Boston.com. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ Clift, Eleanor (February 17, 2012). "Joe Kennedy III Takes the Torch from Retiring Barney Frank". The Daily Beast. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- The Boston Channel. January 5, 2012. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2012. Alt URL Archived January 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- The Huffington Post. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- ^ "Joseph Kennedy III Announcing Mass. Congress Bid". Boston.com. February 15, 2012. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
- ^ a b joekennedy2012 (February 15, 2012). "I'm Running". YouTube. Archived from the original on November 7, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2012.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Miller, Joshua (January 24, 2012). "4th District Field Clears for Joseph Kennedy III in Massachusetts". Roll Call.
- ^ "2012 Primary Endorsement: 4th Congressional District: Joe Kennedy III for Democrats". The Boston Globe. September 2, 2012.
- ^ Levenson, Michael (September 7, 2012). "Bielat, Kennedy to vie for open House seat". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "House election results". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 4, 2014.
- ^ "Massachusetts 4th District Results". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2016.
- ^ Salsberg, Bob (November 28, 2016). "Pivoting toward 2018, Massachusetts Dems eye Charlie Baker challenge". Boston.com. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
- ^ Metzger, Andy. "Kennedy says he will seek re-election in 2018". The Herald News. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
- ^ "Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-Mass)". Roll Call. CQ.
- ^ Jan, Tracy (January 5, 2013). "Kennedy named to two House committees". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Nichols, Christopher (February 6, 2013). "Kennedy grills Texas Instruments president". Taunton Gazette.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Foster, Rick (February 6, 2013). "Kennedy questions TI president about cancer cases". The Sun Chronicle.
- ^ Tracy, Jan (April 17, 2013). "Tierney tops state delegation in first quarter fundraising". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 24, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Blake, Aaron (April 12, 2013). "Rep. Joe Kennedy III launches political action committee". Post Politics (The Washington Post).
- ^ Bender, Bryan (May 28, 2013). "Kennedy impressed by US efforts to prepare Afghans". The Boston Globe.
- ^ Massachusetts Governor's Office (May 29, 2013). "Lieutenant Governor Murray announces Congressman Kennedy to lead the governor's STEM Advisory Council".
- ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved January 30, 2018.
- ^ In These Times (July 26, 2013). "Why Did 83 Democrats Vote to Continue NSA Surveillance?". Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
- ^ "Members". U.S. – Japan Caucus. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
- ^ "Rep. Joe Kennedy III to deliver Democratic response to State of the Union". Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ "Can Joe Kennedy Beat the State of the Union Curse?". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2018.
- ^ Malone, Scott (January 25, 2018). "In step to national stage, a young Kennedy to rebut Trump address". Reuters. Boston. Archived from the original on January 26, 2018. Retrieved January 26, 2018.
- ^ "Rep. Kennedy highlighted Fall River's resilience and work ethic in rebuttal to President Trump". Herald News, Massachusetts. February 1, 2018. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
- ^ Seelye, Katharine Q. (January 30, 2018). "Joseph P. Kennedy III Gives Democratic Response to State of the Union". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ a b c "Full Transcript and Video: Joe Kennedy Delivers Democratic Response to the State of the Union". The New York Times. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
- ^ Dwinell, Joe (August 26, 2019). "Joe Kennedy III confirms he's eyeing run for U.S. Senate". Boston Herald. Retrieved August 26, 2019.
- ^ LeBlanc, Steve (September 21, 2019). "Rep. Joe Kennedy formally announces US Senate campaign". AP NEWS. Retrieved September 21, 2019.
- ^ New York Times, Jonathan Martin, September 1, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ "Fast Facts about Robert F. Kennedy". www.jfklibrary.org. Retrieved September 4, 2020. Robert F. Kennedy was not on the ballot in Massachusetts in the 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries, and finished second to Eugene McCarthy as a write-in candidate.
- ^ Buell, Spencer (July 30, 2020). "In the Endorsement Battle with Joe Kennedy, Ed Markey Is Winning". Boston magazine. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Fram, Alan (August 20, 2020). "Pelosi endorses Kennedy over Markey in US Senate primary". www.centralillinoisproud.com. Associated Press. Retrieved March 27, 2022.
- ^ Cohen, Rachel M. (September 1, 2020). "Ed Markey Beats Back Senate Challenge from Joe Kennedy". The Intercept. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ Murray, Stephanie (September 1, 2020). "Markey overcomes Kennedy challenge in Massachusetts". Politico. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ Tapper, Jake (December 18, 2022). "Biden to name former Rep. Joe Kennedy III as Northern Ireland envoy Monday morning". CNN. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ "Issues: Civil Rights, Kennedy for Congress. Archived June 30, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b Angell, Tom (January 28, 2018). "Dems Pick Anti-Marijuana Kennedy For Trump State Of The Union Response". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Jim (September 28, 2016). "A bipartisan effort: Block legalization of marijuana". The Boston Globe. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
- ^ Kopp, Emily (November 20, 2018). "Rep. Joe Kennedy III, Once Staunchly Anti-Marijuana, Changes His Position". Roll Call. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ Kennedy, Joe III (November 20, 2018). "Rep. Joe Kennedy III: It's time to legalize marijuana at the federal level". STAT. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ Jaeger, Kyle (January 9, 2020). "Formerly Anti-Marijuana Congressman Cosponsors Comprehensive Legalization Bill". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved June 2, 2021.
- ^ Here's where Joe Kennedy stands on the hottest issues debated during Ed Markey's climate change forum, Boston.com, Nik DeCosta-Klipa, November 11, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
- ^ "Issues: Communities of Color, Kennedy for Congress. Archived June 30, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Universal Health Care | Joe Kennedy for Massachusetts". September 1, 2020. Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ "Election Results (Massachusetts Senate)". Decision Desk HQ. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
- ^ "Lauren Birchfield Kennedy". Nationalpartnership.org. Archived from the original on March 14, 2017. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ Scott Stump (December 3, 2012). "Congressman-elect Joe Kennedy III is married". MSNBC.
- ^ Ted Nesi (January 3, 2012). "Joe Kennedy III met his wife in Warren's Harvard Law class". WPRI-TV. Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
- ^ Katie McLeod (December 29, 2015). "Joe Kennedy III announces birth of daughter on Twitter". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 27, 2017.
- ^ "Meet James Matthew Kennedy. Born early this morning and doing great. First gift he received was (appropriately) a Patriots jersey from Grandpa Joe. Thanks to all for the kind words. We are exhausted, over the moon and deeply grateful!". December 20, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
- ^ Finucane, Martin (January 30, 2018). "6 things to know about Joseph Kennedy III". BostonGlobe.com.
- ^ "The Democrat Giving The SOTU Response Is One Of The Richest Lawmakers In Congress". Bustle. January 28, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
External links
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Complete video of debate, February 18, 2020 – C-SPAN
- Complete video of Markey-Kennedy debate, August 11, 2020 – C-SPAN
- Joe Kennedy III at Curlie