Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has set January 19 for the state’s first-ever special election to fill Senator Edward Kennedy’s term that ends in 2012. Patrick also backed a proposal to appoint an interim successor to the seat, a move that could help Democrats retain a critical margin in the Senate.

Governor Deval Patrick: “Let me be clear. I wholly support the special election and the democratic process to fill the remaining two years of Senator Kennedy’s term. But I will continue to work with the legislature on legislation authorizing an interim appointment to the United States Senate for the five months until that special election happens.”