One year, after a shocking election, many across the nation watched with trepidation as President Donald Trump took to the podium to deliver his first State of the Union address. Over the course of this turbulent year, some held onto hope that the Russia investigation would turn up evidence to impeach one of the least liked presidents in America’s history. Though Trump still remains in the Oval Office, that same spark of hope has been stoked by a surprising new speaker for the Democratic Party: John Kennedy III.
Delivering the official Democratic Response to the State of the Union address, Kennedy spoke with an eloquence, passion, and earnestness that Democrats, Independents, and even Republicans have been yearning for. So who is this captivating individual, and why haven’t we heard of him before? Here are a few things to know about the Democrats’ new person of interest.
1. Yes, he is related to former President John F. Kennedy
Coming from a long line of politicians and activists, Joseph Kennedy III is related to our former president. President John F. Kennedy was Joe’s great-uncle, and Robert F. Kennedy was Joe’s grandfather. It seems that Joe has followed in the footsteps of his relatives and strived to be a champion of the Democratic Party.
2. He is fluent in Spanish, he didn’t just learn those few words for his speech
In one of the most powerful moments of Kennedy’s speech, he addresses Dreamers in Spanish. “You are a part our story,” he said. “We will fight for you. We will not walk away.”
While one might assume Kennedy learned a few phrases to appeal to Spanish-speaking voters, he is actually fluent in the language. During his time with the Peace Corps, he spent two and half years in the Dominican Republic.
3. He’s not actually new to politics
Although he caught national attention by delivering the official Democratic response to President Trump’s State of the Union address, Kennedy was already well-loved in his home state. Currently, he is serving his third term as a Congressman for Massachusetts’ 4th district. Despite this, Google Trends shows a large spike in searches for “Joseph Kennedy” directly following the State of the Union, suggesting that many outside of his state were discovering him for the first time.
Prior to his career in politics, Joe was an Assistant Defense Attorney for Massachusetts, earning his J.D. from Harvard Law.
4. He supports STEM initiatives and education
Sure, he says a lot of pretty words about equality and togetherness, but what does he really stand for? Well, outside of the typical Democratic platform, Kennedy has shown exceptional passion for STEM education initiatives and fostering job growth through technology and innovation. Specifically, he created the STEM Gateways Act and the Revitalize American Manufacturing Innovation Act. The former focused on creating more STEM learning opportunities, while the latter aimed to cultivate manufacturing jobs through research and development efforts.
Maybe it’s going too far to say we’re looking at the new poster boy for the Democratic Party. A lot can happen between now and the next election. Assuming Kennedy can evade scandal, public disinterest or a surprise resurgence of trust in the Republican Party, he may have taken his first steps to calling the White House his home.
