Wendell P. Kay

Who was Wendell P. Kay?

Wendell Palmer Kay, Jr. was an American lawyer and Democratic politician active in the territory and state of Alaska.

Born in Illinois, Wendell Palmer Kay, a lawyer, was a member of the Alaska Territorial House of Representatives from 1951 to 1956, representing 3rd district, and the Speaker of this body during his last term.

In addition, during the 1956 Democratic National Convention he served as an alternate delegate from Alaska Territory and a full delegate from the State of Alaska to the successive 1960 Convention.

After U.S. Senator Bob Bartlett, a fellow Democrat, died in office in 1968, then-Republican Governor Walter Joseph Hickel appointed Ted Stevens, former U.S. Attorney and a high-level official in the United States Department of Interior during President Dwight D. Eisenhower's administration, to fill the vacancy.

Because of this, in 1970 Alaska set a special election for remainder of Bartlett's term. Kay run as a Democratic nominee against incumbent Stevens and was defeated by 59.6% won by Stevens versus 40.4% won by him. Stevens served in the Senate until 2008 and was the longest serving Republican Senator and President pro tempore emeritus of the Senate at the time of his defeat.