Joseph P. Kennedy III Announces Congressional Candidacy in Massachusetts [VIDEO]

Joseph Kennedy III has officially launched his congressional campaign for the House of Representatives on Thursdays, as he attempts to continue his family legacy by becoming a Massachusetts politician.

At a press conference, Kennedy acknowledged that his name alone will not earn him the seat. He said he is committed to hard work and dedication.

You've got to earn it, Kennedy told reporters after greeting commuters at a train station in Newton, according to the Boston Globe. You've got to go out every day and talk to people, listen to their concerns, shake more hands, knock on more doors, take more phone calls.

Kenned, 31, is seeking the seat held by retiring, long-time congressman Barney Frank. On his official campaign website, Kennedy launched a video making the announcement in which he announced I'm running. He is out on tour of the district that will take to the towns of Milford, Attleboro, Taunton and Westport.

My family has had the great privilege of serving Massachusetts before. They taught me that public service is an honor given in trust and that trust must be earned each and every day, Kennedy said in the video. That is exactly what I intend to do.

Kennedy is the redheaded grandson of the late Senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert Kennedy and grandnephew of President John F. Kennedy. His father, Joseph P. Kennedy II was also a former congressman. Kennedy served in the Peace Corps after attending college. He then went to Harvard Law School and worked as a prosecutor and assistant district attorney before stepping down in January to form an exploratory committee.

You can always count on me to fight for small businesses, seniors, veterans and for you to make sure you get the constituent service you've come to expect, said Kennedy in the video.

Kennedy's official announcement was predictable. He has been endorsed by major labor unions and recent poll has him with a commanding lead over his Republican opponent Sean Bielat, who previously lost to Barney Frank.

However, residents are still expecting more from Kennedy than his name.

I just think the Kennedy name is not enough to elect somebody, said Mary Thomits, a retired teacher from Brookline, according to the Boston Globe.