Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley is the first official contender for the late Senator Ted Kennedy's empty seat. If elected, she will be the first woman to represent Mass. in the Senate. Currently, there are a measly 17 women in the Senate, which is far from acceptable.

I'm not 100% sure on Coakley's stance on various political issues, but she did support Hillary Clinton in last year's election. Hopefully more information about her will emerge, and hopefully more women will enter the race for Kennedy's empty seat.