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Reps battle for the Democratic nomination in Massachusetts primary election
April 29, 2013
Boston, Massachusetts: In a race initially described as lackluster, the competition in the weeks leading up to the primary has heated up.[1] Voters in Massachusetts will head to the polls tomorrow to decide the Democratic and Republican nominees to fill the vacancy left by the appointment of Senator John Kerry (D) as U.S. Secretary of State. Polls will be open from 7 am until 8 pm ET.[2]
On January 30, 2013, Mo Cowan was appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to fill the vacancy. Cowan, a Democrat who previously served as Patrick's Chief of Staff, will serve as interim Senator until voters choose Kerry's official successor in the June 25 special election.[3][4][5] On December 21, 2012, President Barack Obama announced that he was nominating Kerry to the position of Secretary of State. On January 29, 2013, the Senate confirmed Kerry's appointment by a vote of 94-3. He officially succeeded Secretary Hillary Clinton on Friday, Feb 1.[6][7]
Rep. Ed Markey is seen as the front-runner in the race, with virtually all the Democratic establishment lending support in his campaign for the nomination against Rep. Stephen Lynch.[8] Republican candidates include former Navy SEAL Gabriel Gomez, former U.S. attorney Michael Sullivan, and state Rep. Daniel Winslow.[8] Polling has shown Gomez taking a narrow lead over Sullivan.[8][9]
After suspending the campaigns in the wake of the Boston tragedy, including halting campaigning and removing scheduled television ads, the increasingly intense battle resumed on April 22nd in the first debate since the attack.[2][8] The tense debate turned to national security, with Lynch attacking Markey for opposing a port security bill and creation of a joint terrorism task force.[8] The race previously was dominated more by domestic matters and the candidates' biographies.[2]
Between early April and the final weekend before the April 30th primary, spending by outside groups grew to $2.2 million.[10] According to filings of campaign finance records, the League of Conservation Voters has spent nearly $831,000 to back Markey, the most of any group.[10] NextGen Committee, which opposes the Keystone XL pipeline, also hopes to defeat Lynch and has spent more than $547,000.[10] The top group supporting Lynch is the International Association of Firefighters, which spent nearly $106,000.[10]
U.S. Rep. Edward Markey has raised about $4.8 million since jumping into the special election race.[11][12] Markey's Democratic rival, fellow U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, reported raising approximately $1.5 million since entering the race in late January, adding to the $745,000 left over from his last House race.[11]
Of the three Republicans seeking the nomination — former U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, state Rep. Daniel Winslow and businessman Gabriel Gomez — Gomez reported raising the most, nearly $1.2 million, although that includes $600,000 he loaned his campaign.[11] He also reported having $499,743 left in his account as of April 10, 2013.[11] Sullivan reported raising $174,498, with $96,369 cash on hand.[11] Winslow reported raising $394,549, with $158,550 in personal donations.[11] He had $142,243 cash on hand.[11]
The winners of the nominations will face off in the general election scheduled for June 25, 2013.[13]
See also
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- United States Senate special election in Massachusetts, 2013
- Former Senator John Kerry
- Massachusetts elections, 2013
- United States Senate
- Special elections to the 113th United States Congress (2013-2014)
Footnotes
- ↑ Boston Globe, "So far, Senate special election race lacks pizazz" accessed March 25, 2013
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Metro West Daily News, "Senate candidates ready for Mass. primary" accessed April 28, 2013
- ↑ The New York Times, "Governor Names Longtime Friend to Kerry’s Seat" January 30, 2013
- ↑ Washington Post, "Who is Mo Cowan?" January 30, 2013
- ↑ The Boston Globe, "William ‘Mo’ Cowan to be interim US senator," January 30, 2013
- ↑ The Washington Post, "John Kerry confirmed as secretary of state," January 29, 2013
- ↑ CBS News, "Obama taps John Kerry to be Secretary of State," December 21, 2012
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 MSNBC "Democrats line up behind Ed Markey for Mass. Senate race" accessed April 28, 2013
- ↑ Masslive.com, "Massachusetts Senate race poll: Ed Markey holds vulnerable lead as Gabriel Gomez gives Michael Sullivan run for his money" accessed April 28, 2013
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Boston Globe, "Outside spending in Mass. US Sen. race tops $2.2M" accessed April 28, 2013 (dead link)
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 Seattle PI "Democratic Rep. Markey raises $4.8M for Senate bid" accessed April 22, 21013
- ↑ The Hill, "Markey raises 4.8 million for Massachusetts Senate Race" accessed April 28, 2013
- ↑ Washington Post, "Mass. Senate campaigns left with limited window after bombings freeze race" accessed April 28, 2013
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