With Senator John Kerry’s resignation taking effect Friday, and an interim appointee named, the field is taking shape for the special senate election in Massachusetts.
The special election scheduled for June 25th will be the third time since January 2010 that Massachusetts voters trek to the polls to pick a US Senator. The new campaign is launching just a couple of months after Massachusetts voters settled the most expensive race in the nation between then incumbent Republican Senator Scott Brown and now Senator Elizabeth Warren.
The people competing to fill the unexpired term of John Kerry, which by the way is up in 2014, will have to combat a case of voter fatigue according to Springfield based political consultant Tony Cignoli
Scott Brown is said to be leaning strongly toward running, according to unnamed Republican party officials who told the Associated Press the former senator would likely enter the race next week. Brown won the special election in January 2010 following the death of Edward Kennedy. He was defeated by Warren in November in an election that saw an unprecedented get out the vote effort by Massachusetts Democrats.
Two veteran Congressmen from the Boston area will apparently battle for the Democratic nomination. Edward Markey, the dean of the delegation, has already announced his candidacy, and lined up the backing of the party establishment, including Kerry and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Democratic Congressman Stephen Lynch is planning stops in Springfield, Worcester and Boston Thursday to talk about his plans for the special election.
The primary would be held on April 30th, with the special election on June 25th. Gladys Olyola, the city of Springfield’s election commissioner said it is a good date because it falls just before the beginning of the busy summer vacation season.
Olyola said it will also be an advantage that schools, where many of the city’s polling places are located, will be out for summer.
Springfield city officials may also schedule a voter referendum on casino development for the same date as the special election for senate, according to the city’s chief development officer Kevin Kennedy
While the scramble is beginning to see who will succeed him in the Senate, Kerry is planning to hold what Democrats call a “ Thank You Massachusetts” tour. It will begin in Springfield Thursday morning. Kerry served in the US senate from Massachusetts for 28 years.
As of Friday, Elizabeth Warren will be the state’s senior senator, after just 28 days in office.
