Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey has become the first Democrat to announce his candidacy for an expected vacant Senate seat. WAMC’s Paul Tuthill reports
Markey issued a statement Thursday confirming he has decided to run for the Senate seat now held by John Kerry, who is expected to resign to become Secretary of State. Markey’s statement said in part that Massachusetts needs a senator with the right priorities and values. He vowed to stop the Tea Party from leading the country over the fiscal cliff, and to fight the NRA” s opposition to an assault weapons ban. Markey, who is 66, was first elected to Congress in 1976, making him the dean of the New England delegation, and the 9th most senior member of the House overall. Several Democrats would be expected to run for the open Senate seat. Soon to be former Senator Scott Brown is considered the likely Republican candidate.
