Tagged: John Kerry

A son of Columbian immigrants and a first time candidate has won the Republican nomination to run in the Massachusetts special election for the U.S. Senate seat previously held by John Kerry.

 Democratic U.S. Rep. Edward Markey and Republican former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez won their party primaries Tuesday, setting up a race between a 36-year veteran of Washington politics and a political newcomer for the U.S. Senate seat formerly held by John Kerry.

Markey defeated fellow U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch in the Democratic primary while Gomez, who's also a businessman, bested former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and state Rep. Daniel Winslow in the GOP primary, according to unofficial returns. The special election is scheduled for June 25.

Massachusetts voters are heading to the polls to decide which Republican and Democratic candidates will win their party primaries and go on to run in the state's second special U.S. Senate election in four years.

The race to fill the seat formerly held by Secretary of State John Kerry has been overshadowed by the Boston Marathon bombings. A light turnout is expected today.

The Republican candidates include former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez, former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and state Rep. Daniel Winslow.

Democratic Massachusetts Senate candidate Stephen Lynch has canceled most public events on the eve of the primary election because he is ill.

U.S. Rep. Lynch's campaign says all public events have been canceled Monday except for a scheduled rally at the Iron Workers Hall in South Boston at 7 p.m.

Lynch is facing off against fellow U.S. Rep. Edward Markey in the Democratic primary on Tuesday.

State Rep. Daniel Winslow, businessman Gabriel Gomez and former U.S. attorney Michael Sullivan are squaring off in the Republican primary.

The candidates in the Massachusetts special election to replace U.S. Senator John Kerry have been forced to walk a delicate balance as they court voters ahead of Tuesday's primary elections.

They suspended campaign activities for roughly a week after the Boston Marathon bombings, which took place 15 days before the Republican and Democratic primaries. After resuming campaigning, they have largely avoided the site of the attack out of sensitivity for victims.