By: John Bresnahan and Jonathan Martin
Rhode Island Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy, the son of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, will announce on Friday that he is retiring, according to Democratic insiders.
Kennedy, 42, was first elected to the House in 1994. His departure will leave Congress without a Kennedy for the first time since 1962, when his father was elected to the Senate seat held previously by his uncle, John F. Kennedy.
In a two-minute video retirement announcement, Kennedy invokes the memory of his father as he explains his decision to leave the House.
“My father instilled in me a deep commitment to public service,” Kennedy says. “Now, having spent two decades in politics, my life is taking a new direction, and I will not be a candidate for reelection this year. Going forward, I will continue many of the fights we’ve waged together, particular on behalf of those suffering from depression, addiction, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Kennedy’s congressional tenure was marked by repeated substance abuse problems, including a drunk-driving incident in 2006. He entered a rehab facility at that time and again in 2009.
Kennedy is the 14th House Democrat to announce his retirement so far in this election cycle. Eighteen House Republicans have said they will leave Capitol Hill.
Read more at Politico
I’m so glad that finally there will be no more Kennedys in the legislature. I don’t like the idea of a family of political ‘aristocrats’
Especially the way the Kennedys vote, it’s really, really good that there are no more of them in Congress.