BOSTON (AP) -- Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley appears to be the first candidate in a special election for the Senate seat left open by the death of Edward Kennedy.

A woman who said she was representing Coakley picked up nomination papers from the Secretary of State on Tuesday. Coakley aides did not immediately return calls or e-mails seeking confirmation of her candidacy.

Other Democrats said to be weighing a race include a Kennedy nephew, former Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II; plus U.S. Reps. Stephen Lynch and Michael Capuano. Republicans include former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and state Sen. Scott Brown.

The primary is Dec. 8, and the special election Jan. 19.

Kennedy, the patriarch of the Kennedy political clan and father of Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., died last week of brain cancer at age 77.