Edward M. Kennedy

US Senator John Kerry offered some tough love Wednesday to the colleagues he leaves behind to become secretary of state: end the fierce partisanship or risk the nation's reputation as a beacon of democracy.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick on Wednesday appointed his former chief of staff to temporarily fill the Senate seat held by John Kerry, who has been confirmed as incoming secretary of state.

Fifth-term Democratic US Senator Tom Harkin said Saturday he will not seek re-election next year, setting the stage for a key mid-term election that could help Republicans retake the Senate.

Jack Lew's two previous stints as White House budget director and his reputation as a skilled deal-maker will be put to the test now that President Barack Obama has nominated him to be Treasury secretary.

Jack Lew's two previous stints as White House budget director and reputation as a solid deal-maker will be tested if President Barack Obama picks him as his next Treasury secretary, as expected.

Jack Lew's two previous stints as White House budget director and reputation as a deal-maker will be tested if, as expected, President Barack Obama picks him as his next Treasury secretary.

A son of late political icon Edward Kennedy said Monday he will not run for the US Senate in Massachusetts -- the same state his father represented for nearly five decades -- US media reported.

A son of late political icon Edward Kennedy is considering a run for the US senate seat in Massachusetts -- the same state his late father represented as a popular US lawmaker for nearly five decades, US media reported Sunday.

One of America's most male-dominated clubs is about to become a little less so, after historic election gains that will see the largest number of women ever seated in the US Congress.

Democrats held the Senate and Republicans retained the House of Representatives, projections said Wednesday, raising the likely prospect of more partisan gridlock in a divided US Congress.

Democrats were projected to hold onto the Senate and Republicans were to retain the House of Representatives, raising the likely prospect of more partisan gridlock in a divided US Congress.

Democrats looked set to hold onto the Senate and Republicans retained the House of Representatives on Tuesday, setting up the prospect of more partisan gridlock in a divided Congress.

The Democrats picked up a Senate seat Tuesday in Massachusetts, US media reported, in another discouraging sign for their Republican rivals trying to regain the majority in the upper chamber.

While eyes were focused on the race for the White House on Tuesday, the battle for control of the nation's two chambers of Congress is vital to hopes of easing Washington's partisan political gridlock.

Eleanor Holmes Norton pounds her fist in frustration over her role as a non-voting member of the US Congress. She has endured this second-class status for 20 years.

In the year's costliest US Senate race, a Harvard professor is battling to win back the late Ted Kennedy's old seat against a moderate Republican who scored a huge upset in 2010 by winning the Democratic bastion.

Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank says in a new ad that Mitt Romney has 'no principles' when it comes to gay rights. ?Massachusetts Rep. Barney Frank says in a new ad that Mitt Romney has ?no principles? when it comes to gay rights. The 72-year-old Frank has the distinction of being the first congressman to voluntarily come out gay and the first sitting member of Congress to enter into a marriage with a member of the same sex. He retired from Congress this year and won't return next year. ?It is clear, if you want to sum up his evolution on LGBT rights, 'Mitt gets worse' is a very accurate phrase,? Frank says in the 5-minute video released Thursday by the Mitt Gets Worse campaign. Frank says Romney has been ?especially inconsistent? on LGBT rights. After noting that Romney said in 1994 that he would be ?better on LGBT rights than [Senator] Ted Kennedy,? he then adds: ?He has never been in favor of any legislation or executive order that would advance our rights. Zero. None.? ?This is a m

Democrats assailed Mitt Romney on the opening night of their convention Tuesday, skewering the wealthy Republican presidential hopeful as elite and out-of-touch.

Democrats launched a convention blitz on Mitt Romney, using vintage footage of the late Ted Kennedy in an attempt to ridicule the Republican presidential hopeful.

Democrats were rapt with laughter and campaign fervor as they opened their election convention with footage of a politically nimble Ted Kennedy dismantling Mitt Romney in a devastating 1994 debate.