BRANFORD (AP) — Ted Kennedy Jr. has won his first political race and a seat in the Connecticut state Senate.
Kennedy is the 53-year-old son of the late U.S. senator and a nephew of President John F. Kennedy. He beat Republican Bruce Wilson Jr. on Tuesday for an open seat in the 12th district, which covers Branford, North Branford, Durham, Guilford, Killingworth and Madison.
Kennedy had been mentioned in 2012 as a possible Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in his family’s home state of Massachusetts. But he decided to seek office in Connecticut’s 12th District, where he has lived for about 20 years.
Kennedy is an environmental lawyer who faced criticism over sizable contributions he received from the state Democratic Party.
Wilson is the former chief executive of a medical manufacturing company.
The current officeholder, Democrat Edward Meyer, is retiring.
