Editing Kathleen Kennedy Townsend

{{short description|American attorney and politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| image               = Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (13740728305).jpg
| office              = 6th [[Lieutenant Governor of Maryland]]
| governor            = [[Parris Glendening]]
| term_start          = January 18, 1995
| term_end            = January 15, 2003
| predecessor         = [[Melvin Steinberg]]
| successor           = [[Michael Steele]]
| birth_name          = Kathleen Hartington Kennedy
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1951|7|4}}
| birth_place         = [[Greenwich, Connecticut]], U.S.
| death_date          = 
| death_place         = 
| party               = [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|David Townsend|1973}}
| children            = 4, including [[Maeve Kennedy McKean|Maeve]]
| parents             = {{unbulleted list|[[Robert F. Kennedy]]|[[Ethel Kennedy]]}}
| relatives           = [[Kennedy family]]
| education           = [[Radcliffe College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])<br>[[University of New Mexico]] ([[Juris Doctor|JD]])
| caption             = Kennedy Townsend in 2014
}}
'''Kathleen Hartington Kennedy Townsend''' (born July 4, 1951) is an American attorney who served as the sixth [[lieutenant governor of Maryland]] from 1995 to 2003. She was the first woman to serve in that role. A member of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], she ran unsuccessfully for [[governor of Maryland]] in [[2002 Maryland gubernatorial election|2002]].

In 2010, Townsend became the chair of the non-profit American Bridge, an organization whose focus is to raise funds for Democratic candidates and causes.<ref name="palin barbs">{{cite news |url=http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/12/kennedys_respon.html?rss_id=Top+Stories |title=Kennedys respond to Palin barbs |first=Michael J. |last=Bailey |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=December 4, 2010}}</ref> Since 2021, she has served in the [[United States Department of Labor]] as an advisor on retirement.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2021 |title=Kathleen Kennedy Townsend joins DOL as Walsh's retirement rep |url=https://www.pionline.com/washington/kathleen-kennedy-townsend-joins-dol-walshs-retirement-rep |access-date=April 13, 2022 |publisher=Pensions & Investments}}</ref> She is a member of the prominent political [[Kennedy family]], and is the oldest grandchild of [[Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.]] and [[Rose Kennedy|Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy]].

==Early life and education==
Kathleen Hartington Kennedy was born on July 4, 1951, in [[Greenwich, Connecticut]], the eldest of [[Robert F. Kennedy]] and [[Ethel Kennedy|Ethel Skakel]]'s 11 children.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kathleen Kennedy Townsend |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/012000/012084/html/12084bio.html |website=Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series) |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref> She is named after her paternal aunt [[Kathleen Cavendish, Marchioness of Hartington]].<ref name="NYT19730907">{{cite news |title=Kathleen Kennedy Plans Marriage to an Ex-Tutor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/09/07/archives/kathleen-kennedy-plans-marriage-to-an-extutor.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 7, 1973 |page=25 |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref> Kennedy is the eldest grandchild of [[Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.]] and [[Rose Kennedy]]. She spent her childhood between the family's homes in [[McLean, Virginia]] and [[Hyannis Port, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Robert E. |title=Robert F. Kennedy: The Brother Within |publisher=Phocion Publishing |page=128}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Eidell |first1=Lynsey |title=Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s 10 Siblings: All About His Brothers and Sisters |url=https://people.com/all-about-robert-f-kennedy-jr-siblings-8601220 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=21 April 2024}}</ref> While growing up, it was not assumed that the girls in the politically oriented Kennedy family would run for office.<ref name="just like"/> However, after her uncle, President [[John F. Kennedy]], was assassinated, her father wrote Kathleen saying, "As the oldest of the next generation you have a particular responsibility. ... Be kind to others and work for your country."<ref name="just like"/> Her family gave her the nicknames "Clean Kathleen", "the Nun", and "the Un-Kennedy".<ref name="just like"/>

Over the summer of 1964, Kennedy won four blue ribbons for her "excellence in horsemanship".<ref name=Oppenheimer380-381 /> On August 29, 1965, the 14-year-old Kennedy was somersaulted by her horse while competing at Sea Flash Farms in [[West Barnstable, Massachusetts]]. She was left unconscious and bleeding internally and was rushed to [[Cape Cod Hospital]], located fifteen miles away. Kennedy’s family was en route to [[Hyannis Port]] at the time of the incident and was not located for another three hours.<ref name=Oppenheimer380-381>{{cite book |last=Oppenheimer |first=Jerry |title=The Other Mrs. Kennedy: An Intimate and Revealing Look at the Hidden Life of Ethel Skakel Kennedy |publisher=Macmillan |date=May 15, 1995 |isbn=978-0-3129-5600-4 |pages=380–381 }}</ref>

Kennedy was 16 when her [[Assassination of Robert F. Kennedy|father was assassinated]].<ref>{{cite web |title=DUTY TO SERVE |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2002/10/03/duty-to-serve-2/ |website=The Baltimore Sun |date=October 3, 2002}}</ref> The night he was shot at the [[Ambassador Hotel (Los Angeles)|Ambassador Hotel]], Kennedy and her two oldest brothers, Joseph II and Robert Jr., were being flown to Los Angeles aboard one of the planes in the Secret Service's presidential fleet named "the ''Jet Star''".<ref>Oppenheimer, p. 453.</ref>

Kennedy was educated at Our Lady of Victory Elementary School in Washington, D.C.,<ref name="LeDuc">{{cite news |last1=LeDuc |first1=Daniel |title=The Daughter Also Rises |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-11/28/023r-112899-idx.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 28, 1999 |page=W06 |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref> and later graduated from [[The Putney School]] in [[Vermont]].<ref name="NYT19730907" /> She attended [[Radcliffe College]], receiving her [[bachelor's degree]] in history and literature in 1974. Kennedy then studied at the [[University of New Mexico School of Law]], receiving her [[Juris Doctor]] degree in 1978.<ref name="LeDuc" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Kathleen Kennedy Townsend |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/012000/012084/html/12084bio.html |website=Archives of Maryland (Biographical Series) |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref>

==Early career==
After graduating from law school, Kennedy worked as an attorney at a private [[law firm]], Clendenen & Lesser,<ref>{{cite web |last1=McNulty |first1=Kevin |title=Thumbnail Sketches of Lt. Gov. Candidates |url=https://cnsmaryland.org/1998/09/10/thumbnail-sketches-of-lt-gov-candidates/ |website=Capital News Service|date=September 10, 1998 }}</ref> in [[New Haven, Connecticut]], while her husband, David Townsend, attended [[Yale Law School]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=_8U0AAAAIBAJ&pg=PA19&dq=kathleen+kennedy+townsend+law+firm+new+haven+husband+yale+law+school&article_id=3683,2876576&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiu4rWzseOEAxUsFVkFHYYWARMQ6AF6BAgPEAI#v=onepage&q=kathleen%20kennedy%20townsend%20law%20firm%20new%20haven%20husband%20yale%20law%20school&f=false ''The Hour'' (May 21, 1979)]</ref> In 1982, Kathleen was admitted to the [[Massachusetts Bar Association|Massachusetts bar]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Children of Stephen Smith and Jean Kennedy |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1984/11/26/Children-of-Stephen-Smith-and-Jean-Kennedy1-Stephen-Smith/7306470293200/ |website=[[United Press International]] |access-date=March 8, 2024}}</ref> and worked as a [[law clerk]] for U.S. District Court Judge [[A. David Mazzone]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=ukIwAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA17&dq=kathleen+kennedy+townsend+law+clerk+district+court+judge&article_id=5907,4133533&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzrb7ytuOEAxWrrYkEHcZpCi8Q6AF6BAgMEAI#v=onepage&q=kathleen%20kennedy%20townsend%20law%20clerk%20district%20court%20judge&f=false ''The Montreal Gazette'' (Nov. 28, 1981)]</ref> She also worked on her uncle [[Ted Kennedy 1980 presidential campaign|Ted Kennedy's 1980 presidential campaign]], stumped for local Democrats,<ref name="just like"/> and was hired as a [[Policy analysis|policy analyst]] for [[Governor of Massachusetts|Massachusetts Governor]] [[Michael Dukakis]] in the early 1980s while she and her husband resided in [[Newton, Massachusetts]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aNshAAAAIBAJ&pg=1391,7877010&dq=kathleen+kennedy+townsend&hl=en |title=The Privilege and the Pain of being a Kennedy |newspaper=[[Daytona Beach Morning Journal]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |first=Ann |last=Blackman |date=November 13, 1983 |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hanauer |first1=Joan |title=LOOKING FOR WORK |url=https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1982/05/21/LOOKING-FOR-WORK/8501390801600/ |website=United Press International |access-date=March 8, 2024}}</ref>

In 1984, the family settled in the [[Baltimore metropolitan area|Baltimore area]], in her husband's home state.<ref name="just like">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/time/1999/07/26/kennedy.townsend.html |title=Kathleen Kennedy Townsend: Just like her father? |first=Sally B. |last=Donnelly |date=July 26, 1999 |via=CNN All Politics |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]}}</ref> In 1985, Kathleen was admitted to the [[Maryland Bar|Maryland bar]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Lieutenant Governor: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/ltgov/former/html/msa12084.html |access-date=March 8, 2024}}</ref> Two years later, Townsend became the first [[Kennedy family]] member to lose a [[General election#American usage|general election]] when she ran for the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] in Maryland's strongly Republican [[Maryland's 2nd congressional district|2nd congressional district]], using the name Townsend only.<ref name="just like"/> Incumbent Republican [[Helen Delich Bentley]] defeated her 59% to 41%.

After her failed congressional bid, Townsend went to work for the state government of Maryland, holding numerous posts including assistant [[Attorney General of Maryland|Attorney General]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=McNulty |first1=Kevin |title=Thumbnail Sketches of Lt. Gov. Candidates |url=https://cnsmaryland.org/1998/09/10/thumbnail-sketches-of-lt-gov-candidates/ |website=Capital News Service|date=September 10, 1998 }}</ref> In 1993, she took a job at the [[U.S. Justice Department]] overseeing grants to local police departments and community groups.<ref name="LeDuc">{{cite news |last1=LeDuc |first1=Daniel |title=The Daughter Also Rises |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/WPcap/1999-11/28/023r-112899-idx.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=November 28, 1999 |page=W06 |access-date=March 7, 2024}}</ref>

==Lieutenant governor of Maryland==

===1994 election===
{{Main|1994 Maryland gubernatorial election}}
In 1994, [[Parris Glendening]] was running for [[Governor of Maryland|governor]] in a highly contested primary against then-Lt. Governor [[Melvin Steinberg]] when he selected her as his running mate. Experts did not believe she would be an asset, but her name recognition (she now used the name Kennedy Townsend) and her fund-raising skills helped him to win.<ref name="just like"/>

[[File:Kathleen Kennedy Townsend giving out awards, 2001, cropped.jpg|180px|thumb|Townsend in 2001]]
In the general election, Glendening and Townsend beat Republican candidate [[Ellen Sauerbrey]] in one of Maryland's closest and most controversial gubernatorial elections. After unofficial results indicated that Sauerbrey had lost the election by a narrow margin, she began making what ''The Washington Post'' called "sensational charges" that the election had been stolen.<ref name="for Sauerbrey">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1998/10/12/for-sauerbrey-past-vs-present/fa2f9231-b205-4ad4-985f-6bd06ab06544/ |title=For Sauerbrey, Past vs. Present |first=Donald P. |last=Baker |date=October 12, 1998 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]}}</ref> Sauerbrey's allegations included ballot box stuffing, 100% voting in one precinct, voting by numerous dead people, and what she called the Kennedy "precedent"—that unproven rumors that John Kennedy had stolen the 1960 Presidential election proved that his niece Townsend had stolen this election.<ref name="for Sauerbrey"/>

The official vote tally declared Glendening the winner by 5,993 votes out of 1.4 million.<ref name="for Sauerbrey"/> Sauerbrey hired an election specialist known for aggressive tactics then filed a lawsuit alleging that 50,000 votes had been cast illegally.<ref name="for Sauerbrey"/> By the time the hearing began in January 1995, however, Sauerbrey had backed away from the fraud charges and her claim centered on sloppy election procedures and 3,600 challenged ballots.<ref name="for Sauerbrey"/> The number of challenged ballots would not have been enough to change the result even if all of them were thrown out. The judge ruled that about 1,800 votes had been cast in [[Baltimore]] by people whose names should have been purged from the rolls, but said that there was no clear and convincing evidence that fraud or procedural errors had affected the outcome.<ref name="for Sauerbrey"/> Sauerbrey dropped the suit three days before Glendening was to be inaugurated, but still maintained her belief that she had won the election.<ref name="for Sauerbrey"/>

Sauerbrey ran against Glendening again in [[1998 Maryland gubernatorial election|1998]], but this time Glendening and Townsend won by a much wider margin (55% to 44%).

===Tenure===
During her tenure as lieutenant governor, Townsend focused on [[Crime prevention|reducing crime]] and promoting [[economic development]].<ref name="just like" /> Under her leadership, Maryland became the first state to require [[community service]] as a prerequisite to high school graduation. Townsend's "HotSpot Communities Initiative" collaborated with law enforcement and government agencies to design and implement a comprehensive enforcement and prevention strategy at targeted high-crime areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Lieutenant Governor: Kathleen Kennedy Townsend |url=https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/ltgov/former/html/msa12084.html |access-date=March 8, 2024}}</ref> Her "Break the Cycle" program required offenders on parole or probation to take frequent [[drug test]]s.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Donnelly |first1=Sally B. |title=Kathleen Kennedy Townsend: JUST LIKE HER FATHER? |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,991664,00.html |magazine=Time |date=August 2, 1999 |access-date=9 March 2024}}</ref>

During the [[2000 United States presidential election|2000 presidential election]], Townsend travelled to [[Iowa]] to campaign for [[Al Gore]]. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Ayres Jr |first=B. Drummond |date=January 16, 2000 |title=Political Briefing; A Kennedy Stirs The Political Waters |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/01/16/us/political-briefing-a-kennedy-stirs-the-political-waters.html |access-date=April 8, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==2002 gubernatorial election==
In the [[2002 Maryland gubernatorial election|Maryland gubernatorial election of 2002]], Townsend faced [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] [[Bob Ehrlich]] and [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]] [[Spear Lancaster]] in the general election.

During the campaign, Townsend was criticized for her choice of running mate, [[Admiral]] [[Charles R. Larson]], a novice politician who had switched parties only a few weeks before. Some also criticized the choice of a white male as unlikely to help minority turnout.<ref name="never shook off">{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/bal-te.md.defeat06nov06-story.html |title=Townsend never shook off lightweight label: Drumbeat about lack of leadership qualities dogged her to the end |access-date=February 14, 2009 |last=Nitkin |first=David |date=November 6, 2002 |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]]}}</ref> Ehrlich's running mate was [[Michael Steele]], an [[African-American]] lawyer who had been chairman of the Republican Party of Maryland.

Though Maryland traditionally votes Democratic and had not elected a Republican governor in almost 40 years, Townsend lost the race, gaining 48% of the vote to Ehrlich's 51% and Lancaster's 1%. Ehrlich became only the seventh Republican governor in state history. In the end, most observers agreed she ran a weak campaign. They specifically cited a lack of planning, claiming that she hastily booked campaign stops in rural areas hostile to her. ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]'' said the defeat derailed her political career, at least in the short run.<ref name="never shook off"/>

==Post political career==
[[File:Maryland Women's Hall of Fame Reception (54380269826).jpg|thumb|Townsend with Maryland Governor [[Wes Moore]], First Lady [[Dawn Moore]], and Lieutenant Governor [[Aruna Miller]], 2025]]
Townsend, along with siblings [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.|Robert, Jr.]] and [[Kerry Kennedy|Kerry]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Carrie Budoff |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/12/kennedy-family-split-on-endorsements-007405 |title=Kennedy family split on endorsements |access-date=April 6, 2020 |work=[[Politico]] |date=December 16, 2007 |language=en}}</ref> endorsed [[Hillary Clinton]] for president in the 2008 Democratic primaries.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-kennedy29jan29,0,1618955.story |title=Kennedys for Clinton |first1=Kathleen Kennedy |last1=Townsend |first2=Robert F. |last2=Kennedy Jr. |first3=Kerry |last3=Kennedy |author-link2=Robert F. Kennedy Jr. |author-link3=Kerry Kennedy |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=January 29, 2008 |access-date=January 29, 2008 }}</ref>

Townsend wrote the book ''Failing America's Faithful: How Today's Churches Are Mixing God with Politics and Losing Their Way'', published in 2007.<ref>{{cite book |title=Failing America's Faithful: How Today's Churches Are Mixing God with Politics and Losing Their Way |publisher=Warner Books |year=2007 |last=Townsend |first=Kathleen Kennedy |isbn=978-0-446-57715-1 }}</ref> She also contributes to ''The Recovering Politician'', a website started by Jonathan Miller.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://therecoveringpolitician.com/category/contributors/kkt|title=Kathleen Kennedy Townsend|website=The Recovering Politician|access-date=July 28, 2019 }}</ref>

Townsend is an adjunct professor at the [[Georgetown Public Policy Institute]], a visiting fellow at [[Harvard Kennedy School]] at [[Harvard University]], and senior Nitze fellow at [[St. Mary's College of Maryland]].

In December 2010, Townsend was appointed chair of American Bridge, a new non-profit that would raise funds for Democratic candidates and causes, and that was intended to be a Democratic counterpart to right-leaning organizations such as [[American Crossroads]] and [[Crossroads GPS]].<ref name="palin barbs"/> She noted that the Democrats did not have such an organization during the 2010 election cycle, and that Republicans outspent the Democrats by $70 million. Townsend stated, "I want to compete dollar to a dollar with the Republicans and I want to beat them".<ref name="hopes new">{{cite news |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2010/12/kathleen-kennedy-townsend-american-bridge-david-brock-2012-group.html |title=Kathleen Kennedy Townsend Hopes New Democratic Fundraising Group Will Avert Another 'Disaster' In 2012 |date=December 2, 2010 |first=Michael |last=Falcone |work=The Note |publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref>

Townsend endorsed incumbent Democrat [[Joe Biden]]'s [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|reelection campaign]] in the [[2024 United States presidential election]] over [[Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 2024 presidential campaign|a third-party/independent challenge]] by her brother Robert.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Donnell |first1=Kelly |last2=Lebowitz |first2=Megan |last3=Richards |first3=Zoë |title=Kennedy family members endorse Biden over RFK Jr. |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/kennedy-family-members-endorse-biden-rfk-jr-rcna148303 |work=NBC News |access-date=April 22, 2024 |language=en |date=April 18, 2024}}</ref> Four months later, Townsend and four of her siblings endorsed Democratic Vice President [[Kamala Harris]]'s [[Kamala Harris 2024 presidential campaign|campaign]] in the [[2024 United States presidential election]], and denounced their brother Robert Jr.'s decision to endorse former President [[Donald Trump]], calling the move a "betrayal".<ref>{{cite web |last=Lebowitz |first=Megan |title=Members of the Kennedy family denounce RFK Jr.'s decision to endorse Trump |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/kennedy-family-members-denounce-rfk-jr-trump-endorsement-rcna168024 |website=NBC News |access-date=August 24, 2024 |language=en |date=August 24, 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1973, Kathleen married David Lee Townsend (born 1947),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kennedys/sfeature/sf_tree_text.html|title=American Experience – The Kennedys – Kennedy Family Tree – PBS|website=[[PBS]]|access-date=September 27, 2018|archive-date=March 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090313091721/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/kennedys/sfeature/sf_tree_text.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> whom she had met when he was a graduate student and her tutor at Radcliffe.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kathleen chose the simple life |newspaper=[[The Ledger]] |location=Lakeland, Florida |pages=1C, 13C |date=November 27, 1980 |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=s84SAAAAIBAJ&pg=224,4267888 |via=[[Google News]]}}</ref> As of April 2020, David is a member of the faculty at [[St. John's College (Annapolis/Santa Fe)|St. John's College]] in Annapolis.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sjc.edu/academic-programs/faculty/annapolis |title=Annapolis Faculty |publisher=St. John's College |access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref> They have four daughters:

* Meaghan Anne Kennedy Townsend (born November 7, 1977)
* [[Maeve Kennedy McKean|Maeve Fahey Kennedy Townsend]] (November 1, 1979 – April 2, 2020)
* Rose Katherine "Kat" Kennedy Townsend (born December 17, 1983)
* Kerry Sophia Kennedy Townsend (born November 30, 1991)

On June 27, 2011, Maeve gave birth to a son named Gideon Joseph Kennedy McKean. Gideon was the first great-grandchild for Bobby and Ethel, as well as the first of the fifth generation of Kennedys.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/post/love-etc-rfks-first-great-grandchild-born/2011/06/29/AGVI7ArH_blog.html |title=Love, etc.: RFK's first great-grandchild born |date=June 29, 2011 |access-date=April 12, 2013 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |department=The Reliable Source |first1=Roxanne |last1=Roberts |first2=Amy |last2=Argetsinger}}</ref>

Maeve and son Gideon went missing, and were presumed dead, in a canoeing accident that occurred on April 2, 2020. After 26 hours, the recovery mission was suspended. Maeve's body was found in the [[Chesapeake Bay]] on April 6<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-city/bs-md-ci-authorities-recover-kennedy-body-20200407-cd5fh7yob5bjfezebfbkufny2q-story.html |title=Authorities recover body of former Maryland Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend's daughter |date=April 6, 2020 |newspaper=The Baltimore Sun |first=McKenna |last=Oxenden |access-date=April 7, 2020 }}</ref> and Gideon's body was recovered two days later. His body was 2,000 feet from where his mother's was found.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/body-of-8-year-old-kennedy-family-member-found-after-canoe-accident/2268268/|title=Body of 8-Year-Old Kennedy Family Member Found After Canoe Accident |date=April 8, 2020 |newspaper=NBC 4 Washington |first=Andrea
|last=Swalec |access-date=April 8, 2020}}</ref>

==Boards==
Townsend has served on the boards of many organizations, and as a consultant to several corporations. She is the chair of the Institute for Human Virology at the [[University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute|University of Maryland]]. Townsend is on the boards of directors of the [[John F. Kennedy Library]] Foundation, the [[Points of Light|Points of Light Foundation]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pointsoflight.org/our-leadership |title=Our Leadership |publisher=Points of Light |access-date=September 21, 2016 }}</ref> the [[Center for American Progress]] and [[Catholic Democrats]]. She was formerly on the independent Advisory Council of the [[Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now]] (ACORN), a panel that was appointed to review the functioning of ACORN following the scandal touched off by hidden camera videos in September 2009,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/09/acorn-reacts.html |title=ACORN Reacts |date=September 16, 2009 |first=Jake |last=Tapper |work=Political Punch |publisher=ABC News}}</ref> and the board of the ''[[National Catholic Reporter]]''. Townsend is also a member of the [[Council on Foreign Relations]] and the [[Inter-American Dialogue]]. She is also on the Board of Selectors of [[Jefferson Awards for Public Service]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jeffersonawards.org/board |title=Our Board of Selectors |website=Jefferson Awards for Public Service |access-date=November 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124055949/http://www.jeffersonawards.org/board |archive-date=November 24, 2010}}</ref> Townsend is on the board of directors at the Lightbridge nuclear fuel technology company.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ltbridge.com/leadership/board-of-directors/ |title=Board of Directors |website=Lightbridge |access-date=September 27, 2018}}</ref>

==Electoral history==
{{Election box begin no change| title=2002 gubernatorial election, Maryland}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate  = [[Robert Ehrlich]] / Michael Steele
| votes      = 879,592
| percentage = 51.6
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate  = Kathleen Kennedy Townsend / Charles R. Larson
| votes      = 813,422
| percentage = 47.7
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
| candidate  = [[Spear Lancaster]]
| votes      = 11,546
| percentage = 0.7
}}
{{Election box gain with party link without swing
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
| loser  = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=1998 gubernatorial election, Maryland <br>Lieutenant Governor's seat&nbsp;– sharing one ballot space with the nominee for Gov.}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate  = Parris Glendening (incumbent) / Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (incumbent)
| votes      = 846,972
| percentage = 55.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate  = Ellen Sauerbrey / Richard D. Bennett
| votes      = 688,357
| percentage = 44.8
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=1994 gubernatorial election, Maryland <br>Lieutenant Governor's seat&nbsp;– sharing one ballot space with the nominee for Gov.}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate  = Parris Glendening / Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
| votes      = 708,094
| percentage = 50.2
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate  = Ellen Sauerbrey / Paul Rappaport
| votes      = 702,101
| percentage = 49.8
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
| winner = Democratic Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin no change| title=1986 U.S. congressional election, Maryland's 2nd district}}<ref name="clerk.house.gov">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1986election.pdf|title=Statistics of the Congressional Election, 1986|publisher=Clerk of the House of Representatives}}</ref>
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| party      = Republican Party (United States)
| candidate  = [[Helen Delich Bentley]]
| votes      = 96.745
| percentage = 59%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| party      = Democratic Party (United States)
| candidate  = Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
| votes      = 68,200
| percentage = 41%
}}
{{Election box hold with party link without swing
| winner = Republican Party (United States)
}}
{{Election box end}}<ref name="clerk.house.gov"/>

==See also==

* [[List of female lieutenant governors in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
<!-- * [http://www.kathleenkennedytownsend.com/ Official site] -->
* {{IMDb name|1195089}}
* [http://www.issues2000.org/Kathleen_Kennedy_Townsend.htm Summary of Townsend's positions on the issues]
* [http://chiasmos.uchicago.edu/events/kennedytownsend.shtml Audio/Video recordings] of Kathleen Kennedy Townsend on her book ''Failing America's Faithful'', from the University of Chicago's [https://web.archive.org/web/20070625145641/http://internationalstudies.uchicago.edu/wbh.shtml World Beyond the Headlines series]
* [http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/08conoff/former/html/msa12084.html Official state government biography]
* [http://library.cqpress.com/ Congressional Quarterly Voting and Elections Collection]
* {{C-SPAN|1928}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Melvin Steinberg]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Lieutenant Governor of Maryland]]|years=1995–2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Michael Steele]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Parris Glendening]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] nominee for [[Governor of Maryland]]|years=[[2002 Maryland gubernatorial election|2002]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Martin O'Malley]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Lieutenant Governors of Maryland}}
{{Maryland Women's Hall of Fame}}
{{Robert F. Kennedy}}
{{Kennedy family}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Townsend, Kathleen Kennedy}}
[[Category:1951 births]]
[[Category:American people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:American people of Irish descent]]
[[Category:Catholics from Connecticut]]
[[Category:Catholic politicians from Maryland]]
[[Category:American women lawyers]]
[[Category:McCourt School of Public Policy faculty]]
[[Category:Harvard Kennedy School faculty]]
[[Category:Kennedy family]]
[[Category:Lieutenant governors of Maryland]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Maryland Democrats]]
[[Category:Maryland lawyers]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Greenwich, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Politicians from Greenwich, Connecticut]]
[[Category:Radcliffe College alumni]]
[[Category:Robert F. Kennedy]]
[[Category:St. Mary's College of Maryland faculty]]
[[Category:Schools of the Sacred Heart alumni]]
[[Category:The Putney School alumni]]
[[Category:United States Department of Justice lawyers]]
[[Category:1992 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:University of New Mexico School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Women in Maryland politics]]
[[Category:Candidates in the 2002 United States elections]]
[[Category:21st-century American women politicians]]
[[Category:United States Department of Labor officials]]
[[Category:National Catholic Reporter people]]
[[Category:20th-century Maryland politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Maryland politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century American women politicians]]