Topzle Topzle

Joe Kennedy III

Updated: Wikipedia source

Joe Kennedy III

Joseph Patrick Kennedy III (born October 4, 1980) is an American politician and former diplomat who served as the United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland from 2022 to 2024. From 2013 to 2021, Kennedy served as the U.S. representative for Massachusetts's 4th congressional district. 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. 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 nephew of Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a grandnephew of U.S. President John F. Kennedy and U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy, and a great-grandson of U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom 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 as assistant district attorney in 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, he unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Senator Ed Markey for the Democratic nomination in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate election. He was succeeded by his distant cousin-in-law Jake Auchincloss. Since leaving office, Kennedy has founded Groundwork Project, which focuses on boosting local community organizing efforts nationwide. He has also joined several advisory boards and appeared as a political commentator for CNN. On June 4, 2021, President Joe Biden appointed him to the President's Commission on White House Fellowships. In December 2022, Biden named Kennedy the United States Special Envoy to Northern Ireland for Economic Affairs.

Infobox

President
Joe Biden
Preceded by
Barney Frank
Succeeded by
Jake Auchincloss
Born
Joseph Patrick Kennedy III (1980-10-04) October 4, 1980 (age 45)Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Political party
Democratic
Spouse
mw- Lauren Birchfield (m. 2012)
Children
2
Parent
mw- Joseph P. Kennedy II (father)
Relatives
Kennedy family
Education
Stanford University (BS)Harvard University (JD)
Party
Democratic

Tables

· U.S. House of Representatives › Elections › 2018
115th Congress .mw- (2017–19)
115th Congress .mw- (2017–19)
Committee assignments
115th Congress .mw- (2017–19)
Energy and Commerce Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Health Oversight and Investigations
Energy and Commerce Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Health Oversight and Investigations
Committee assignments
Energy and Commerce Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Health Oversight and Investigations
Committee assignments
115th Congress (2017–19)
Energy and Commerce Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade Health Oversight and Investigations
Massachusetts's 4th congressional district, results 2012–2018 · Electoral history
Candidate
Candidate
Year
Candidate
Democrat
Votes
Democrat
Pct.
Democrat
Candidate
Republican
Votes
Republican
Pct.
Republican
Candidate
3rd party
Party
3rd party
Votes
3rd party
Pct.
2012
2012
Year
2012
Democrat
Joseph P. Kennedy III
Democrat
221,303
Democrat
61.1%
Republican
Sean D. Bielat
Republican
129,936
Republican
35.9%
3rd party
David A. Rosa
3rd party
Independent
3rd party
10,741
3rd party
3.0%
2014
2014
Year
2014
Democrat
Joseph P. Kennedy III (incumbent)
Democrat
184,158
Democrat
97.9%
Republican
(no candidate)
Republican
write-ins
Republican
3,940
3rd party
2.1%
2016
2016
Year
2016
Democrat
Joseph P. Kennedy III (incumbent)
Democrat
265,823
Democrat
70.1%
Republican
David A. Rosa
Republican
113,055
Republican
29.8%
3rd party
write-ins
3rd party
335
3rd party
0.1%
2018
2018
Year
2018
Democrat
Joseph P. Kennedy III (incumbent)
Democrat
245,289
Democrat
97.7%
Republican
(no candidate)
Republican
write-ins
Republican
5,727
3rd party
2.3%
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%
Senate Democratic primary results[71][53] · Electoral history
Total votes
Total votes
Party
Total votes
Candidate
100.0%
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic
Ed Markey (incumbent)
782,694
55.35
Democratic
Joseph P. Kennedy III
629,359
44.51
Total votes
100.0%
· External links
Party political offices
Party political offices
U.S. House of Representatives
Party political offices
Preceded bySteve Beshear
Preceded bySteve Beshear
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded bySteve Beshear
U.S. House of Representatives
Response to the State of the Union address 2018
U.S. House of Representatives
Succeeded byStacey Abrams
Diplomatic posts
Diplomatic posts
U.S. House of Representatives
Diplomatic posts
VacantTitle last held byMick Mulvaney2021
VacantTitle last held byMick Mulvaney2021
U.S. House of Representatives
VacantTitle last held byMick Mulvaney2021
U.S. House of Representatives
United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland 2022–2024
U.S. House of Representatives
Vacant
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
U.S. House of Representatives
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byChester G. Atkinsas Former U.S. Representative
Preceded byChester G. Atkinsas Former U.S. Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded byChester G. Atkinsas Former U.S. Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
Order of precedence of the United Statesas Former U.S. Representative
U.S. House of Representatives
Succeeded byRobert Baumanas Former U.S. Representative
House of Representatives
Preceded byBarney Frank
Member of the U.S. House of Representativesfrom Massachusetts's 4th congressional district 2013–2021
Succeeded byJake Auchincloss
Party political offices
Preceded bySteve Beshear
Response to the State of the Union address 2018
Succeeded byStacey Abrams
Diplomatic posts
VacantTitle last held byMick Mulvaney2021
United States Special Envoy for Northern Ireland 2022–2024
Vacant
order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byChester G. Atkinsas Former U.S. Representative
Order of precedence of the United Statesas Former U.S. Representative
Succeeded byRobert Baumanas Former U.S. Representative

References

  1. Boston Herald
    https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/01/29/joe-kennedy-becomes-cnn-commentator
  2. Politico
    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/01/massachusetts-primary-markey-kennedy-407078
  3. BostonGlobe.com
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/02/15/nation/jake-auchincloss-swings-left-congress-amid-lingering-progressive-skepticism/
  4. BostonGlobe.com
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/27/metro/after-senate-defeat-joe-kennedy-iii-plots-new-path-politics/
  5. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/26/us/politics/joe-kennedy-mississippi.html
  6. BostonHerald.com
    https://www.bostonherald.com/2021/01/29/joe-kennedy-becomes-cnn-commentator/
  7. The White House
    https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/04/president-biden-appoints-members-to-presidents-commission-on-white-house-fellowships/
  8. State Department
    https://www.state.gov/announcement-of-joe-kennedy-iii-as-u-s-special-envoy-to-northern-ireland-for-economic-affairs/
  9. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
    http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=K000379
  10. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/16/magazine/joe-kennedy-iii.html?pagewanted=all
  11. The Boston Globe
    https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/03/18/for_the_kennedy_clan_he_is_generation_next/
  12. Cape Cod Times
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130512064256/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20100228%2FNEWS%2F2280329%2F-1%2Fnews
  13. National Journal
    http://www.nationaljournal.com/congress-legacy/massachusetts-4th-house-district-20121101
  14. Sports Illustrated
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130429174717/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/magazine/news/20130429/jason-collins-gay-nba-player/
  15. The Cape Cod Chronicle
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130624153955/http://www.capecodchronicle.com/harnews/har050709_6.htm
  16. "Kennedy Joins Middlesex District Attorney's Office"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180323212702/http://middlesexda.com/news/press-release-archive.php?reference=382
  17. The MetroWest Daily News
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130412074131/http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1153512415/Joseph-Kennedy-III-joins-Middlesex-DAs-Office
  18. Alumni Pursuits
    http://www.law.harvard.edu/news/spotlight/alumni-pursuits/related/joe_kennedy_iii_election.html
  19. Cape Cod Times
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120115005518/http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20100301%2FNEWS%2F3010311
  20. "Middlesex District Attorney"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120111065902/http://middlesexda.com/news/press-release.php?reference=382
  21. "Joseph P. Kennedy III, family scion, explores run for Barney Frank's House seat | Boston.com"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230417005833/https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/01/05/joseph-p-kennedy-iii-family-scion-explores-run-for-barney-franks-house-seat/
  22. "Joe Kennedy III Takes the Torch from Retiring Barney Frank"
    http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/17/joe-kennedy-iii-takes-the-torch-from-retiring-barney-frank.html
  23. "Joe Kennedy III Exploring Campaign Run"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200923064234/https://www.wcvb.com/article/joe-kennedy-iii-exploring-campaign-run/8167811
  24. The Huffington Post
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/05/joe-kennedy-run-for-congress-barney-franks-seat_n_1186095.html
  25. "Joseph Kennedy III Announcing Mass. Congress Bid"
    http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/02/15/ap_source_joe_kennedy_iii_announcing_congress_bid_1329339493/
  26. "I'm Running"
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7F7MnMdtDw
  27. Roll Call
    http://www.rollcall.com/issues/57_83/joseph_kennedy_iii_4th_district_clears_massachusetts-211730-1.html
  28. The Boston Globe
    http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2012/09/01/congressional-district-joe-kennedy-iii-for-democrats/hMDtGqN9FZ85ZoPpUVPmRK/story.html
  29. The Boston Globe
    http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/09/06/bielat-kennedy-vie-for-open-house-seat-neal-keating-defeat-challengers/A7tAMApX6GgtQjtjXTAQFK/story.html
  30. "House election results"
    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/elections/live_results/2014/house
  31. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/massachusetts-house-district-4-kennedy-rosa
  32. Boston.com
    https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2016/11/28/pivoting-toward-2018-massachusetts-dems-eye-charlie-baker-challenge
  33. The Herald News
    http://www.heraldnews.com/news/20170118/kennedy-says-he-will-seek-re-election-in-2018
  34. Roll Call
    http://www.rollcall.com/members/46526.html
  35. The Boston Globe
    https://www.boston.com/politicalintelligence/2013/01/04/joseph-kennedy-named-house-science-and-technology-and-foreign-affairs-committees/reYGrh482OHxYI7vKvrIAK/story.html
  36. Taunton Gazette
    https://archive.today/20130411222504/http://www.tauntongazette.com/topstories/x206923381/Kennedy-grills-Texas-Instruments-president
  37. The Sun Chronicle
    http://www.thesunchronicle.com/news/local_news/kennedy-questions-ti-president-about-cancer-cases/article_9b76c27c-7096-11e2-9bc6-0019bb2963f4.html
  38. The Boston Globe
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170324055127/http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/04/17/tierney-tops-massachusetts-house-delegation-first-quarter-fundraising/W7slpM42rnsE9x8yrHAgAM/story.html
  39. Post Politics (The Washington Post)
    https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/04/12/rep-joe-kennedy-iii-launches-political-action-committee/
  40. The Boston Globe
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/05/28/obama-and-christie-reunite-view-recovery-jersey-shore/Gp9jgxVyPm8W2O4q5ZiOWP/story.html
  41. "Lieutenant Governor Murray announces Congressman Kennedy to lead the governor's STEM Advisory Council"
    http://www.mass.gov/governor/pressoffice/pressreleases/2013/0529-congressman-kennedy-to-chair-stem-council.html
  42. "Caucus Members"
    https://cpc-grijalva.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=71&sectiontree=2,71
  43. In These Times
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200116201424/http://inthesetimes.com/article/15361/why_did_83_democrats_vote_to_continue_nsa_surveillance/
  44. "Members"
    https://usjapancaucus-castro.house.gov/members
  45. "Rep. Joe Kennedy III to deliver Democratic response to State of the Union"
    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/rep-joe-kennedy-iii-to-deliver-democratic-response-to-state-of-the-union/
  46. POLITICO Magazine
    https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/01/28/kennedy-state-of-the-union-response-rebuttal-curse-216542/
  47. Reuters
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180126164918/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-usa-trump-speech-response/in-step-to-national-stage-a-young-kennedy-to-rebut-trump-address-idUKKBN1FF0G1
  48. Herald News, Massachusetts
    http://www.heraldnews.com/news/20180130/rep-kennedy-highlights-fall-rivers-resilience-work-ethic-in-rebuttal-to-president-trump
  49. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/us/joseph-kennedy-democratic-response.html
  50. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/us/politics/transcript-joe-kennedy-democratic-response.html
  51. Boston Herald
    https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/08/26/joe-kennedy-iii-announces-hes-considering-a-u-s-senate-run/
  52. AP NEWS
    https://apnews.com/19d73eb993c94840bbcb0ace8e348bbe
  53. Markey Holds Off Joseph Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate Race, New York Times, Jonathan Martin, September 1, 2020. Retrie
    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/01/us/politics/massachusetts-senate-vote-results.html
  54. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/01/us/politics/ed-markey-kennedy.html
  55. www.jfklibrary.org
    https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/the-kennedy-family/robert-f-kennedy/fast-facts-robert-f-kennedy
  56. "In the Endorsement Battle with Joe Kennedy, Ed Markey Is Winning"
    https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2020/07/30/endorsement-guide-markey-kennedy/
  57. "Pelosi endorses Kennedy over Markey in US Senate primary"
    https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/politics/pelosi-endorses-kennedy-over-markey-in-us-senate-primary/
  58. The Intercept
    https://theintercept.com/2020/09/01/ed-markey-senate-win-joe-kennedy/
  59. Politico
    https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/01/massachusetts-primary-markey-kennedy-407078
  60. "Biden to name former Rep. Joe Kennedy III as Northern Ireland envoy Monday morning"
    https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/18/politics/joe-kennedy-iii-northern-ireland-announcement/index.html
  61. X
    https://x.com/USEnvoyNI/status/1867665037231530264
  62. "Issues: Civil Rights, Kennedy for Congress. Archived June 30, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
    https://kennedyforma.com/issues/civil-rights/
  63. Marijuana Moment
    https://www.marijuanamoment.net/dems-pick-anti-marijuana-kennedy-trump-state-union-response/
  64. The Boston Globe
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2016/09/28/bipartisan-pols-team-for-anti-marijuana-fundraiser/9yYp6JQCpebHw7gaCAJgZI/story.html
  65. Roll Call
    https://www.rollcall.com/2018/11/20/rep-joe-kennedy-iii-once-staunchly-anti-marijuana-changes-his-position/
  66. STAT
    https://www.statnews.com/2018/11/20/joe-kennedy-legalize-marijuana-federal-level/
  67. Marijuana Moment
    https://www.marijuanamoment.net/formerly-anti-marijuana-congressman-cosponsors-comprehensive-legalization-bill/
  68. Here's where Joe Kennedy stands on the hottest issues debated during Ed Markey's climate change forum, Boston.com, Nik D
    https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2019/11/11/joe-kennedy-climate-change
  69. "Issues: Communities of Color, Kennedy for Congress. Archived June 30, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
    https://kennedyforma.com/issues/communities-of-color/
  70. Joe Kennedy for Massachusetts
    https://web.archive.org/web/20200901201420/https://kennedyforma.com/issues/health-care/
  71. Decision Desk HQ
    https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/2020/primary/Massachusetts/4647
  72. "Lauren Birchfield Kennedy"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170314202413/http://www.nationalpartnership.org/about-us/staff/lauren-birchfield-kennedy.html
  73. MSNBC
    http://www.today.com/id/50057691/site/todayshow/ns/today-weddings/
  74. WPRI-TV
    https://web.archive.org/web/20130120152900/http://blogs.wpri.com/2013/01/03/joe-kennedy-iii-met-his-wife-in-warrens-harvard-law-class/
  75. "Joe Kennedy III announces birth of daughter on Twitter"
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/names/2015/12/29/joe-kennedy-iii-announces-birth-daughter-twitter/TfGxiI5hWj8PawStD1p3IL/story.html
  76. "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!"
    https://twitter.com/RepJoeKennedy/status/943651631698243584/
  77. BostonGlobe.com
    https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/01/30/things-know-about-joseph-kennedy-iii/fI0j0Z8zGmeUdFaBU4UxzO/story.html
  78. Bustle
    https://www.bustle.com/p/rep-joe-kennedys-net-worth-makes-him-one-of-the-richest-lawmakers-in-congress-8037889
Image
Source:
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.