Rep.-elect Joseph Kennedy and the Kennedy family’s politicians

From a November election victory to a start decades ago, here’s a look at members of a famous family who went into politics.

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Joseph Kennedy III

The son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II and grandson of Robert F. Kennedy won a seat in the U.S. Congress in November. At left, the Massachusetts Democrat, 31, is congratulated by his mother, Sheila Rauch, after delivering his victory speech on Nov. 6 in Newton, Mass. Kennedy III beat Republican businessman Sean Bielat in the race to replace retiring congressman Barney Frank.

Bizuayehu Tesfaye / AP

Joseph Kennedy II

Joseph Kennedy II, the eldest son of former senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the former senator Edward M. Kennedy, served as a U.S. congressman from Massachusetts 1987 to 1999. He has served as president of Citizens Energy Corp., a non-profit energy company, since 1998.

Stan Honda / AFP/Getty Images

Patrick J. Kennedy

Kennedy, a son of Edward M. Kennedy, served as a U.S. representative in Congress from Rhode Island from 1995 until 2011.

Paul J. Richards / AFP/Getty Images

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

The daughter of Robert F. Kennedy, she was the lieutenant governor of Maryland from 1995 until 2003. After her uncle, President John F. Kennedy, was assassinated in 1963, her father wrote the 12-year-old Kathleen that ''as the oldest of the next generation you have a particular responsibility. . . . Be kind to others and work for your country.''

Rob Kim / Getty Images for RFK Center

May 8, 2008

Edward “Ted” Kennedy, brother of President John F. Kennedy and former senator Robert F. Kennedy, served as a U.S. senator from Massachusetts from 1962 to 2009 and was a candidate for the Democratic nomination for president in 1980. Among his legislative accomplishments: his long-time push for universal health care.

Susan Walsh / AP

Maria Shriver

Shriver was the first lady of California from 2003 to 2011, while she was married to Arnold Schwarzenegger. She is the daughter of former Peace Corps chief and 1972 vice-presidential candidate Robert Sargent Shriver Jr. and Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Danny Moloshok / AP

Robert F. Kennedy

Kennedy served as a New York senator from 1965 to 1968. Before that, he was the U.S. attorney general under his brother, President John F. Kennedy, and President Lyndon B. Johnson, from 1961 to 1964. He was running for the Democratic nomination for president when he was assassinated in 1968.

Charlie Tasnadi / AP

John F. Kennedy

Kennedy served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Before that, he was a Massachusetts senator from 1953 to 1960, and a member of Congress from Massachusetts from 1947 to 1953.

/ AP

Robert Sargent Shriver Jr.

Shriver — whose wife, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, was the sister of John, Robert and Ted Kennedy — was the first director of the Peace Corps and was the Democratic vice-presidential candidate in 1972.

/ AP

Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.

Kennedy, the patriarch of the Kennedy clan, was a wealthy financier who had political ambitions for his sons, Joseph (who died in service in World War II), John, Robert and Edward. He was the 44th U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1938 to 1940.

/ AP

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