There will be no senate comeback bid this year for Scott Brown. The former Republican senator announced Friday he will not run in the special election to fill the vacancy left by John Kerry’s departure.
Brown who became a national Republican star with his upset victory in the 2010 special election for senate in Massachusetts, then lost to Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren last year, has decided to sit out this year’s senate campaign.
Brown said in a statement that his competitive instincts had lead him to consider running but he said the prospect of returning to a Congress more partisan than when he left was not the best way for him to continue in public service.
Donald Humason, a Republican State Representative from Westfield, who is a friend of Browns said he was surprised by the decision.
Brown in his statement gave no clue about his future plans.
For the Republicans who had hoped to pick up a seat in the Senate with the resignation of John Kerry to become Secretary of State it is on to plan B, according to Tim Vercellotti, political science professor at Western New England University.
Names being mentioned as possible Republican candidates include former governor William Weld, who recently moved back to Massachusetts from New York, former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and former state senator and recently defeated Congressional candidate Richard Tisei.
Democratic Congressman Ed Markey now appears to be the front runner in the senate election. Springfield based political consultant Tony Cignoli says Markey has already lined up key endorsements from the party establishment, and he has money.
Markey will face a challenge in the Democratic Primary from fellow Massachusetts Congressman Stephen Lynch.
Brown’s announcement capped a tumultuous week in Massachusetts politics. It began Tuesday when the US Senate voted to confirm Kerry’s appointment as secretary of state. On Wednesday, Governor Deval Patrick named his former chief of staff, William “Mo” Cowan to be the interim senator until the special election on June 25th. Lynch announced his candidacy Thursday.