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Hot pursuit underway for Kerry's seat
2/7/2013
By Joshua Evans
With the appointment of John Kerry to the role of Secretary of State, and his successor, Mo Cowan, to serve no more than the remainder of his term, Massachusetts is seeing it's second special election in less than four years.
Eyes were initially on Scott Brown and if he was willing to throw his hat in the ring to try and win back his position in the Senate, after losing it last year to Elizabeth Warren. However, following the election of the Brown supported Quincy Councilwoman, Kirsten Hughes, as the new Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party, Brown made the announcement that he was going to decline a run.
One by one, prominent Massachusetts Republicans withdrew their interest in the race- Charlie Baker prior to Brown's withdrawal, William Weld, Taggert Romney, Kerry Healey. With so many large named candidates declining, there was some social network speculation that the MassGOP wouldn't contest this race at all.
Such a power vacuum has attracted the eyes of a number of local candidates. State Rep. Dan Winslow, Nantucket Selectman Doug Bennett, Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, Governor's Councilwoman Jennie Caissie, and Gabriel Gomez, a variety stemming from across the Commonwealth have expressed interest or openly declared. There's no guarantee that many of them will actually make the ballot, as Massachusetts' strict 10,000 signature require will stem anyone with lackluster organization, but if more than one does make it, they will join the Democrats in having a party primary.
On the other side of the isle, Massachusetts Democrats have been engaged in a more heated race. Ed Markey and Stephen Lynch, two members of Massachusetts' nine member Congressional delegation declared last month, and have been sparring for the eventual primary in April.
With superior funding, both Democratic candidates hold considerable financial and organizational advantages over their opponents in the general election, but early polling shows Markey leading Lynch in the primaries by considerable margins.
But, "Washington gridlock", a phrase thrown around by left, right, and center as if it was a cooked spaghetti noodle at a wall, has also attracted the eyes of individuals outside of the major two parties.
Former Republican flag bearer for Senate against the late Ted Kennedy and candidate against Scott Brown in the last special primary election, Jack E. Robinson has resurfaced with the intent to wage an Independent campaign. Robinson, an oddity of Massachusetts politics who ran a scandelous campaign for Senate in 2000, faces the 10,000 signature requirement, even as an Independent candidate.
Joining him is Libertarian Daniel Fishman. Fishman, who's 4.5% showing in last November's close House race between unpopular Congressman John Tierney and Republican Richard Tisei, has earned him the ire of many Republicans. Hoping to capitalize on his early entrance and the possibility of an absence of a Republican candidate, Fishman aims to present himself as the alternative candidate to the two major parties.
Republican Party (Declared and Exploratory)
Democratic Party (Declared and Exploratory)
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Ed Markey |
Stephen Lynch |
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United States Representative |
United States Representative |
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52% (Public Policy Polling: Head to Head) |
19% (Public Policy Polling: Head to Head) |
Libertarian Party (Declared and Exploratory)
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Daniel Fishman |
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Businessman and 2012 Congressional Candidate |
Independents (Declared and Exploratory)
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Jack E. Robinson III |
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2000 and 2009 Candidate for Senate |
Images courtesy of OurCampaigns, Shrewsbury GOP, and The Patriot Ledger
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